CEO at Group Five Mike Lomas said the Zanzibar contract is complementary to the current Bank of Tanzania project in Dar es Salaam - a $75-million operation that is on schedule for completion in December 2005.

Group Five is erecting two 18-storey office towers and constructing a six-floor car park and a conference facility adjacent to the Bank of Tanzania's existing building.

The Zanzibar project, however, will be fast-tracked for completion by June 2005.

The branch office will be built using local skills and materials, specifically the stone coral that will be utilised for the lower façade.

"The Bank of Tanzania, Zanzibar branch is located close to the foreshore on the west coast. This poses a challenge as the construction site itself is on a high water table, which means that excavations will take place below sea level. Furthermore, we will have to contend with the rainy season in April and May, and a large percentage of the building materials will have to be transported by sea which may impede our progress," he explained.

In order to keep costs down, the materials for the concrete will be sourced from the local Zanzibar cement factory and the stone coral from local producers, while other materials may be sourced from South Africa and external cladding from other parts of Tanzania.

Group Five has previously completed projects in Tanzania, including having completed various projects including pipelines, roads, buildings and civil works, over the years.

"At present, 30% of our order book originates from outside South Africa.

This is in line with our growth strategy. Over the next three years, we plan to secure at least 50% of our business outside of this country," he concluded.