China Eximbank provides $57.1 million preferential buyer’s credit for Phase 1 of Video Surveillance Platform Project (Linked to Project ID#92204, ID#92205, and ID#92206)

On June 6, 2016, China Eximbank and the Government of Côte d'Ivoire signed a $57,107,286.55 (CFA 27,790,839,066.10) preferential buyer’s credit (PBC) agreement [CHINA EXIMBANK PBC No. (2016) 4 TOTAL NO. (392)] for Phase 1 of the Video Surveillance Platform Project. It was ratified by the Government of Cote d'Ivoire on August 31, 2016. The borrowing terms of the PBC are unknown. However, it is known that the proceeds of the PBC were to be used by the borrower to partially finance a commercial contract with Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. As of April 2022, the loan had achieved a 117.3% disbursement rate (CFA 32,608,412,922 out of CFA 27,790,839,066.10). 6 disbursements (worth CFA 32,608,412,922) took place between 2017 and 2020: a CFA 5,899,456,283 disbursement on December 31, 2017, a CFA 12,311,081,310 disbursement on July 31, 2018, a CFA 4,973,823,456 disbursement on November 30, 2018, a CFA 4,609,394,849 disbursement on April 30, 2019, a CFA 2,227,192,738 disbursement on September 30, 2019, and a CFA 2,587,464,286 on March 31, 2020. This project involved the laying of 270 kilometers of fiber optic cable and the installation of 1,000 video surveillance cameras in the capital city of the Abidjan. It also sought to connect these cameras to a traffic monitoring system using license plate readers and variable message signs for the detection of red light violations. The ultimate objectives of the project were to reduce crime, establish an infrastructure monitoring system, and establish a road traffic regulation and control system in ten areas: Abobo, Adjame, Attécoubé, Cocody, Koumassi, Marcory, Plateau, Port-Bouet, Treichville, Yopougon. Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. was the contractor responsible for implementation. This project commenced in 2017. As of January 2019, 91% of the cameras were installed; 95% of the operation centers were established; 75% for the management of road and traffic monitoring equipment was installed; and 85% coverage for fiber optic cable was installed. The project was expected to reach completion in March-April 2019. It was ultimately completed on February 28, 2021.

Additional details

1. This project is also known as the Abidjan Safe City Project and the Video Protection Platform in Abidjan Project. The French project title is Le Projet de plateforme de vidéo protection de la ville d'Abidjan or Le Projet de mise en œuvre de la plate forme unifiée et ouverte de la vidéo protection de la ville d'Abidjan or Le projet de vidéosurveillance de la ville d'Abidjan. The Chinese project title is 阿比让平安城市视频监控系统 or 科特迪瓦平安城市项目 or 阿比让平安城市项目. 2. According to the Government of Côte d'Ivoire’s Aid Management Platform (AMP), the face value of the loan from China Eximbank is considerably higher than the face value reported by other sources. The AMP also records a different loan commitment date (November 30, 2017). The issues warrant further investigation. 3. The AMP system identification number for the China Eximbank loan is 1120071316138. The AMP project code for the China Eximbank loan is 251 9201 78. 4. The project coordinator for Phase 1 of the Video Surveillance Platform Project is COLL GUELPETCHIN M. OUATTARA. 5. Bank of China also financed the second and third phases of the project (as captured via Project ID#92204, ID#92205, and ID#92206).

Number of official sources

13

Number of total sources

27