Chinese Government provides grant worth 5.43 million euros for Radio and Television Center Construction and Equipping Project

Project narrative

On or around the year 2000, the Chinese Government and the Government of Comoros signed a grant agreement for the Radio and Television Center Construction and Equipping Project. China’s Ministry of Commerce was the source of funding and it committed 5.43 million euros (or 2.675 billion Comorian francs) in total. The project involved the construction of a building for the National Broadcasting and Television Center — called l'Office de Radio et Télévision des Comores (ORTC) — in the town of Voidjou. It also involved the provision and installation of radio and TV broadcasting equipment. China Radio and TV International Architectural Design Co., Ltd. was the contractor responsible for project design and China Radio and Television International Economic and Technical Cooperation Corporation (CRTV or 中国广播电视国际经济技术合作总公司) was the contractor responsible for project implementation. A foundation laying ceremony took place on August 4, 1999. Then, on May 26, 2002, a friendship tree planting ceremony at the project site took place. The project passed final MOFCOM inspection on April 14, 2005. ORTC began broadcasting on the analogue terrestrial network on April 7, 2006 at 5PM. Then, on May 3, 2006, a formal ORTC inauguration ceremony took place.