Chinese Government provides grant worth 2.5 billion Comorian Francs — via November 2018 ETCA — for People's Palace Rehabilitation Project

Project narrative

On November 23, 2018, the Chinese Government and the Government of Comoros signed an Economic and Technical Cooperation Agreement (ECTA), which committed grant funding worth 1.3 billion Comorian Francs for the People's Palace Rehabilitation Project. However, by 2019 (when project implementation commenced), the size of the Chinese Government’s grant commitment for the People's Palace Rehabilitation Project had apparently increased to 2.5 billion Comorian Francs. The purpose of the project was to renovate the internal and external surfaces of the People’s Palace, its hallway, office area, performance hall, and outdoor facilities. It also sought to add new spaces to the complex. The total floor area to be renovated was 4460 square meters. The People's Palace houses the Comorian legislative assembly and was initially built with substantial Chinese aid in 1980. China Qiyuan Engineering Cooperation and Zhongding International Construction Group were the contractors responsible for the rehabilitation project. A groundbreaking ceremony took place on December 28, 2019 and project was originally expected to take 15 months to complete (March 28, 2020). On July 22, 2021, the rehabilitation project successfully passed a final inspection conducted by a team of experts from China’s Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM). Then, on October 2, 2021, an opening ceremony was held for the renovated People's Palace.