The $40 million Challenge Airport Plaza to be built near Nadi Airport in about six months’ time is expected to be the biggest single shopping complex in the Western Division.

The developers, Challenge Properties, under the arm of the Challenge Group of Companies head by Lautoka businessman Suresh Patel said the complex would also contain warehouses.

The site earmarked for the construction is along the Queens Road opposite the Naisoso Road near Nadi Airport.

The Challenge Group of Companies include Automart, Mobile Cranes and Challenge Engineering Limited (which Challenge Properties come under).

Challenge Group of Companies Maintenance and Facilities Manager Anit Gounder said the new complex comes after the opening of their Challenge Votualevu Plaza, also in Nadi.

“This will be the biggest in the western division and will comprise of warehouses, office spaces, supermarkets and retail outlets,” Mr Gounder said.

He said the new complexes by Challenge Properties showed the confidence in Nadi’s economy and the fast growth pace it was presently going through.

“We will have getting shopping malls and smaller retail shops with office spaces ranging from 150 – 160 square.

“Altogether we are looking at 42 outlets in total with 10 warehouses situated at the back of the plaza itself.”

The entire plaza will sit on 3.5 to four acres of land.

“We should begin work in six to eight months’ time.”

Mr Gounder said they have already advertised for Expressions of Interest and have already received some responses, mainly from restaurants and small retail shops.

“Interest have been shown by some leading supermarket chains but we cannot name them at present.”

“We are trying to provide the needs for the growing population of Nadi.”

Meanwhile the Challenge Votualevu Plaza with 24 outlets, each with 115 square space has been booked out.

All 12 office spaces on the top floor have been taken by the Fiji Revenue and Customs Services along with three more on the ground level.

The rest were taken up India Gate restaurant (2 outlets), Jimmy’s Restaurant, Chicken Express, Grace Roads and Jack’s of Fiji.

The $5 million complex took one and a half years to build and is beside the initial complex which houses New World Supermarket and Courts Fiji Limited.

Mr Gounder said they have one of the biggest car parks also with 250 parking spaces available with 24 hour security.

He added the same was with Challenge Plaza Namaka.

The company also has properties in Suva where ANZ Bank Kalabu is and the building that houses Mindpearl and one in Nina Street.

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