Chinese Government provides RMB 24 million grant for Radio and Television Network Expansion Project (Linked to Record ID#31096, #71820, #71821, ETCA #936)

Project narrative

On March 4, 2003 and March 7, 2003, the Chinese Government and the Government of Lesotho signed an exchange of letters for the Radio and Television Network Expansion Project. Then, on May 30, 2005 and June 7, 2005, the Chinese Ambassador to Lesotho and Lesotho’s Minister of Commerce signed a supplemental exchange of letters for the Radio and Television Network Expansion Project. China’s Ministry of Commerce reportedly committed RMB 24 million of grant funding for this project. The funds were drawn at least in part from an Economic and Technical Cooperation Agreement (ETCA) that the two governments signed in 2003 (as captured via record ID#936). Jiangsu Construction Group Co. won the EPC contract in February 2007 and it signed an agreement with Lesotho’s Minister of Communications on May 11, 2011. This project involved the installation of broadcasting infrastructure in 5 areas across Lesotho including Thaba Mokhele, Berea, and the capital city of Maseru. More specifically, it involved the installation of four new TV and FM transmitter stations, renovation and replacement of existing transmission towers, and installing supplementary generator sets and oil storage tanks. The ultimate purpose of this project was to help the state-owned media entity Lesotho National Broadcasting Service (LNBS) reach a larger audience. Upon completion, it was expected that Lesotho's radio network would cover 100% of the country and television coverage would reach 85% of the population. A project commencement ceremony took place on April 7, 2008. On May 31, 2013, the project handover ceremony took place. The Chinese Government later donated more equipment to LNBS (as captured via record ID#31096) and trained LNBS personnel (as captured via record ID#71821). The Chinese Government also signed a licensing agreement with LNBS in 2013 (as captured via record ID#71820).