Chad secures over 24 billion FCFA from China for development projects
Chad has received significant new financial backing from China. Two grant agreements, totaling 300 million yuan – approximately 44 million US dollars and more than 24 billion FCFA – were officially signed on Thursday, August 20th, in N’Djamena. These funds are designated to bolster crucial infrastructure and social development initiatives, alongside advancements in digital technology and vocational training.
- Politique
The two distinct agreements comprise grants of 100 million and 200 million yuan, respectively. Signatories included Tahir Hamid Nguilin, Chad’s Minister of State for Finance, Budget, Economy, Planning, and International Cooperation, and Wang Xining, the Chinese Ambassador to Chad. It is important to note, as confirmed by the Chadian Ministry of Finance, that these allocations are outright grants, not loans. This crucial distinction means the 300 million yuan will not contribute to any additional national debt for Chad.
A key advantage highlighted by N’Djamena is the immediate availability of these resources. The Chadian government intends to direct the funds towards projects focusing on infrastructure, social progress, digital technologies, and capacity building. Minister Tahir Hamid Nguilin affirmed, “The two grants, amounting to 100 and 200 million yuan respectively, are immediately mobilizable.” He further emphasized that particular attention would be given to initiatives directly impacting the populace, especially young people and women.
From infrastructure to digital advancement
The announced scope for the aid is quite broad. Ambassador Wang Xining elaborated that China’s assistance aims to finance infrastructure and social projects, while also supporting the expansion of digital technologies and the development of essential skills. As of now, specific projects have not been publicly linked to these two financial envelopes, nor has the precise distribution of the 300 million yuan across various sectors been detailed. The practical application of these funds will become clearer as selected projects are identified and subsequently implemented. The stakes are considerable: over 24 billion FCFA is now available for investments without the need for debt financing.
This latest financial package complements another Chinese contribution provided just weeks prior. On July 7th, Beijing and N’Djamena finalized a grant of 2 million US dollars, equivalent to approximately 1.2 billion FCFA, specifically earmarked for flood prevention and management efforts. This earlier funding was intended to bolster the nation’s response capabilities following several particularly devastating flood events. In 2024, floods had impacted an estimated 1.9 million individuals, resulted in 576 fatalities, and ravaged over 432,000 hectares of agricultural land.