Recently, the groundbreaking ceremony for the Abidjan Port Expansion Project in Côte d'Ivoire, undertaken by China Harbour Engineering Company under China Communications Construction Company (CCCC), was grandly held at the Port of Abidjan. Koulibaly, Special Envoy of the President of Côte d'Ivoire and Secretary-General of the Presidency, and other government officials, together with Chinese Ambassador to Côte d'Ivoire Tang Weibin and Commercial Counselor Sun Liang, attended the ceremony.
The Abidjan Port Expansion Project has a contract value of approximately US$930 million, with funding provided by the Export-Import Bank of China in the form of a buyer's credit. It is currently the largest single government framework project provided by the Chinese government to Côte d'Ivoire. The project will create nearly 600 local jobs, drive employment for 1,000 people in related industries, and will also enhance the technical skills of local construction industry workers through professional training. The project is expected to be completed in July 2019.
Once expanded, the Port of Abidjan will become the largest port in West Africa, playing an important role in promoting the national economic development of Côte d'Ivoire and building the country into the political, economic and cultural center of the West African region.