Completed Development AidData Chinese Aid

Chinese Government provides $8 million interest-free loan for Friendship Stadium Construction Project (Linked to Record ID#60752, #60753, and #60470)

¥8M RMB

Funder	China Ministry of Commerce
Recipient Organization	Government of Gabon
Country	Gabon
Start Date	Jan 01, 2011
End Date	Aug 31, 2033
Duration	8,278 days
Number of Grantees	1
Roles	Recipient
Data Source	AidData Chinese Aid
Grant ID	`517`

Grant Description

Chinese Government provides $8 million interest-free loan for Friendship Stadium Construction Project On November 7, 2008, the Chinese Government and the Government of Gabon signed an Economic and Technical Cooperation Agreement (ETCA), which committed an RMB 30 million grant for the Friendship Stadium Construction Project and other unspecified projects.

Then, on December 22, 2009, the Chinese Government and the Government of Gabon signed an Economic and Technical Cooperation Agreement (ETCA), which committed an RMB 50 million interest-free loan for the Friendship Stadium Construction Project.

Then, on December 13, 2010, the Chinese Government and the Government of Gabon signed an Economic and Technical Cooperation Agreement (ETCA), which committed an additional RMB 80 million interest-free loan for the Friendship Stadium Construction Project.

In 2011, the Chinese Government reportedly provided an additional $8 million interest-free loan for the Friendship Stadium Construction Project. Record ID#60470 captures the RMB 30 million grant. Record ID#60752 captures the RMB 50 million interest-free loan. Record ID#60753 captures the RMB 80 million interest-free loan.

Record ID#517 captures the $8 million interest-free loan. The project involved the construction of a 40,000 seat stadium in Angondjé, a suburb of Libreville in Gabon.

It also involved the construction of seven ticket offices, an athletic track meeting international standards, and a soccer field. This stadium is known as Stade de l’Amitié and le Stade de l'amitié sino-gabonaise. Shanghai Construction Group was the contractor responsible for implementation.

It signed a $90 million construction contract on August 4, 2009 and it reportedly hired more than 600 Chinese employees. Construction began on January 23, 2010 and ended November 16, 2011. Then, on November 27, 2011, an official project handover ceremony and stadium opening ceremony was held. The stadium was completed in advance of the 2012 African Cup of Nations.

The 2017 Africa Cup of Nations also took place at the Stade de l'Amitié in February 2017.

However, according to February 2024 reporting by the New York Times, the stadium 'has been mostly abandoned since it hosted the final of the Cup of Nations in 2017.'

📋 Staff Comments

The Chinese project title is 中加友谊体育场. The French project title is Stade de l’Amitié and le Stade de l'amitié sino-gabonaise.
Since the borrowing terms of the interest-free loan are unavailable, AidData has set maturity to 20-years by default and the grace period to 10-years by default, per China's Foreign Assistance White Paper (http://www.cidca.gov.cn/2018-08/06/c_129925064_3.htm) which states that the maturity period of interest-free loans is 20-years, with a drawdown period of 5-years, grace period of 5-years, and repayment over 10-years. AidData treats the drawdown period as providing 5-years of additional grace.

📚 Sources & References

http://www.constructionweekonline.com/article-16405-engineering-genius--sport-leisure-and-the-arts/7/
Interview: Gabon's Communication minister appreciates good Gabono-Chinese relations
Interview: Gabonese FM believes Beijing Olympics to be great success, http://www.fmprc.gov.cn/eng/wjb/zzjg/fzs/gjlb/2989/, http://dspace.cigilibrary.org/jspui/bitstream/123456789/32500/1/saiia%20OP%2098.pdf?1, http://www.presidentalibongo.com/l-actualite/toute-l-actualite/5301/quelques-semaines-de-la-can-le-president-ali-bongo-ondimba, http://www.en.legabon.org/news/796/2012-acn-promise-kept-president-ali-bongo-ondimba
China’s ‘Stadium Diplomacy’ In Africa And Its Top Beneficiaries, http://stadiumdb.com/stadiums/gab/stade_de_l_amitie_sino_gabonaise
邦戈总统出席我援加蓬体育场项目交接仪式
援加蓬体育场项目对外施工合同签署
MINSTERE DES AFFAIRES ETRANGERES
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中国援建项目简介系列之四：中加友谊体育场
Bilan 2011 - Coopération sino-africaine: une année fructueuse pour les peuples africains
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集团承建的援加蓬体育场对外移交启用, http://global.factiva.com/aa/?ref=XNEWS00020090928e59s0060s&pp=1&fcpil=en&napc=S&sa_from=
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China Keeps Building Stadiums in Africa. But at What Cost? Loan applications and disbursements are still being received and processed as the projects continue to evolve. Ongoing monitoring and evaluation are in place to ensure project continuity.