World Bank grants $90m for Abidjan-Lagos project to ease trade barriers in West Africa

The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors on May 31, 2012 approved a $90 million grant to finance the Abidjan-Lagos Trade and Transport Facilitation Project, a $405.5 million project that will reduce trade and transportation barriers across West Africa.

The Abidjan-Lagos Trade and Transport Facilitation Project in Cote d’Ivoire is the second phase of a regional programme including Ghana, Togo and Benin.

It will finance trade and transport facilitation activities along the 130 kilometer coastal corridor in Cote d’Ivoire, as well as trade facilitation reforms in Customs and in the Port of Abidjan.

“The Abidjan-Lagos Corridor links some of the largest and economically most dynamic cities in Africa — Lagos, Accra and Abidjan” says Madani M. Tall, the World Bank’s Country Director for Cote d’Ivoire, Benin, Mauritania, Niger, and Togo.

“In the long term, the project will facilitate trade expansion both for imports and exports for local economies,” Tall added.

According to the World Bank, the first phase of the programme (APL1) estimated to cost about $257.5 million in Ghana, Togo and Benin has been under implementation since March 2010. The second phase of the programme (APL2) including Cote d’Ivoire is estimated to cost about $148 million.

By Ekow Quandzie