Japan provides $78 million loan to Côte d’Ivoire for three Abidjan interchanges

Japan has agreed to provide Côte d’Ivoire with 48.4 billion CFA francs (approximately $78 million) in additional financing for the construction of three interchanges in Greater Abidjan, as the West African country seeks to ease traffic congestion and improve urban mobility.

The financing agreement was signed on November 4 in Abidjan by Ivorian Foreign Affairs Minister Nialé Kaba and Japan’s ambassador to Côte d’Ivoire, Gomakubo Junji, in the presence of Infrastructure and Road Maintenance Minister Yacouba Hien Sié.

The funding will support the second phase of the project, which covers three major intersections along Boulevard Germain Koffi Gadeau: the National Police Academy junction, Riviera Palmeraie and Riviera 3, also known as Neuf Kilo.

The interchanges are designed to improve traffic flow, reduce congestion and facilitate the movement of people and goods across the economic capital.

According to Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the financing amounts to 12.252 billion yen and takes the form of a concessional loan, rather than a grant. It carries an annual interest rate of 0.80%, with a repayment period of 40 years, including a 10-year grace period.

The additional financing follows the initial phase of the project, launched in 2019. Japan said the increase in the overall project cost, partly driven by exchange-rate fluctuations and rising prices, made additional funding necessary.

The project is supported by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and forms part of broader efforts to improve transport infrastructure in Greater Abidjan.

Ivorian authorities say the new interchanges should reduce traffic bottlenecks, shorten waiting times at major junctions and improve the movement of goods. The project is also expected to contribute to economic activity by improving connectivity across the city.