Chinese Government provides RMB 203 million grant for Yaoundé Multipurpose Sports Complex Construction Project (Linked to Record ID#31868, ID#31869, ID#91790, ID#91791)

Project narrative

On November 23, 2001, the Chinese Government and the Government of Cameroon signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for the Yaoundé Multipurpose Sports Complex Construction Project. The Chinese Government reportedly provided RMB 203 million (or $14.3 million) in grant funding for the project (captured via Record ID#31867). China’s Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) also issued two loans for the Yaoundé Multipurpose Sports Complex Construction Project: an RMB 60 million interest-free loan with a 28 year maturity and a 19 year grace period that was issued on January 31, 2007 and an RMB 50 million interest-free loan with a 25 year maturity and a 16 year grace period that was issued on October 1, 2007. As of December 31, 2020, the RMB 60 million loan (captured via Record ID#91790) had achieved a 100% disbursement rate and the RMB 50 million loan (captured via Record ID#91791) had achieved a 96.3% disbursement rate. The purpose of the project was to build the Yaoundé Multipurpose Sports Complex. The 13,000 square meter stadium was built on 40,000 square meters of land. It is now used to host a variety of sporting and non-sporting events and holds up to 5,400 people. The project also involved the construction of a press room, a warm-up room, cocktail and vip rooms, dining rooms, an outdoor courtyard, and a parking lot. The stadium was designed by China Aerospace Design and Research Institute. China Shanxi Construction Engineering (Group) Corporation was responsible for construction (project implementation). Construction was postponed at least twice due to difficulties with shipping materials from China into the port of Douala. Construction finally began on January 20, 2006. The project was ultimately completed on May 31, 2008, and the stadium was officially inaugurated on June 19, 2009.