Chinese Government provides RMB 160 million grant for Godomey Interchange Construction Project (Linked to Record ID#58712, #85366)

Project narrative

On 26 August, 2008, the Chinese Ambassador to Benin, Mr. Geng Wenbing, announced that his government had agreed to provide an RMB 160 million grant for the Godomey Interchange Construction Project. China’s Ministry of Commerce was the funding agency. This project involved the construction of the Godomey interchange on the outskirts of the capital city of Cotonou. Then, on 29 December, 2008, Ambassador Geng and Benin's Minister of Foreign Affairs Jean Marie Ehouzou signed an agreement, which committed an additional RMB 40 million of grant funding for the project. The RMB 40 million grant is captured in #85366. China Railway 14 Bureau Group Co., Ltd. was the contractor responsible for implementation. A groundbreaking ceremony took place on 26 August, 2008. Construction was scheduled to begin in October 2008, although a groundbreaking ceremony was held 26 August, 2008. Construction officially began on 29 December, 2008. The interchange was opened to traffic in 2011, however, construction was still underway. The exact completion date is unknown. In 2014, the Chinese Government provided an RMB 33.69 million grant to the Government of Benin for the Godomey Interchange Canal and Landscaping Project (see linked record ID#58712).