Chinese Government provides $6 million grant for the Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex Renovation Project (Linked to Record ID#1627, #1557 and #53253)

On April 23, 2004, China pledged to grant US$11 million to Liberia to repair and renovate the SKD sports complex and to rehabilitate the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (#1627), according to the Agence France Presse source (captured in umbrella #1557).

In February 2005, Liberian Finance Minister Lusine Kamara and Chinese Ambassador to Liberia Lin Songtian signed a contract valued at nearly US$6 million to renovate the Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex in Paynesville. On September 26, 2005, Hunan Constructing Engineering Group began construction on SKD Stadium.

Chinese sources stated the project would cost US $7.6 million.

On July 21, 2007, the project was completed and the stadium was officially turned over to the Liberian Government as a special gift to its 160th anniversary of Independence.

The renovation project covered the scope of repairing, reprising, upgrading and the additional building of the facilities ranging from studio contraction to digital scoreboard; public address system; core and track; lighting system; fire fighting system; monitoring system and telephone system. At capacity, the stadium can seat 35,000 persons.

Chinese Ambassador Lin Songtian said the grant is a fulfillment of the Chinese Government's promise when it renewed diplomatic ties with Liberia in 2003.

Funding came in the same grant as funding for Record ID#1627 foreign ministry building (umbrella project captured in #1557).

In October 2013, another agreement was signed to renovate the SKD stadium again following damage to the stadium in 2009 (#53253). May also be linked to Record ID#1602.