Qatar has rejoined a public competition to develop the former Athens airport, one of the prized sites of Greece's privatisation drive, a Greek spokesman said.

The emirate "has signed the confidentiality agreement and is returning to the Hellinikon tender," government spokesman Simos Kedikoglou said.

Qatari Diar, a subsidiary of the Qatar Investment Authority, had pulled out of the tender in January prior to a visit to Doha by Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras.

Greek reports at the time had suggested that Qatar would discuss only a direct assignment of the contract.

The three other bidders are Elbin Cochin Limited from Israel, London & Regional Properties from Britain, and Lamda Development of Greece.

Qatar has also announced it will invest up to $1.34 billion in a joint fund with Athens to bolster the Greek industry. – TradeArabia News Service