The Ivorian Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Integration and the Diaspora, Kandia Camara, recently laid the foundation stone to mark the start of construction of the proposed dry port of Ferkessédougou in Ferkessédougou (Ferké), a city in the northern region of the West African country located approximately 600 km from the economic capital Abidjan. 1
Contracting and engineering firm China National Complete Plant Import & Export Group (COMPLANT) will implement the project at a cost of US$ 433.4M. According to a contract signed last year but one with the African country authorities, the Shanghai-based company will conduct site remediation, construction, and equipment procurement for the project, which has a construction period of 30 months.
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Covering a surface area of 732 hectares, upon completion, the dry port of Ferkessédougou will mainly have a logistics platform with warehouses, cold chain, etc.; a hydrocarbon depot; a regional slaughterhouse and a cattle market; as well as an industrial zone for the development and processing of agricultural and mining products. 2
The objective of the project
Located strategically in the northern region of Cote d’Ivoire, the dry port of Ferkessédougou mainly aims to relieve congestion and bring the autonomous port of Abidjan closer to its regional partners such as Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger.
It is also expected to make a lasting contribution to the development of the northern regions of the country and to the enhancement of the economic potential of the Poro, Tchologo, and Bagoué regions in Savanes District, and Bounkani, and Gontougo regions in Zanzan district. 3
According to Minister Kandia Camara, this project, which she termed as a “tool for accelerating growth and reducing poverty” will generate more than 71,000 direct jobs that will directly benefit young people and women.
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