Chinese Government provides CFA 7 billion grant for Vocational and Technical Institute Construction Project

Project narrative

In November and December 2011, the Chinese Government dispatched a technical team to undertake a feasibility study for a potential Vocational and Technical Institute Construction Project. Then, on October 17, 2012, China Geo-Engineering Corporation International Ltd. (CGCINT) signed a contract with CAR’s Ministry of Vocational Education for the Vocational and Technical Institute Construction Project. China’s Ministry of Commerce reportedly provided a CFA Franc 7 billion grant for this project. The project involved the construction of a vocational and technical institute 24 kilometers west of Bangui on the road to Boali (at PK 24). The project site that was selected is located within a few kilometers of the Chinese Government-sponsored M'Poko National Farm (see #55538). The Chinese Government selected this site on the outskirts of Bangui because it wanted to benefit from the existing electricity infrastructure in the area, which is managed by ENERCA (CAR’s sate-owned power utility). China Geo-Engineering Corporation International Ltd. (CGCINT) was the contractor responsible for implementation. This project did begin implementation, but it was eventually suspended due to violence and political instability. The suspension of the project placed CGCINT in a difficult position, as a large number of project inputs (including 2 ocean containers and 580 tons of steel bars) were stranded in the Port of Douala. Then, on June 19, 2015, China’s Ambassador to CAR announced the resumption of project implementation. However, it is unclear whether/when this project was completed.