MORONI, Comoros — October 30, 2025.
The Union of the Comoros has officially launched its landmark Maritime Corridor and Regional Trade Facilitation Project, a transformative initiative financed by the African Development Bank Group (AfDB) to the tune of US$137 million.
The launch ceremony, held on October 27 in Moroni, was presided over by President Azali Assoumani and attended by senior officials of the Bank and other development partners.
The AfDB’s contribution comprises a US$135 million grant from the African Development Fund — its concessional financing window — and an additional US$2 million from the Transition Support Facility for countries in transition.
The project aims to modernize Comoros’ port infrastructure, facilitate trade, and strengthen regional connectivity, positioning the island nation as a strategic logistics hub between Africa and Asia in the Mozambique Channel.
“The maritime corridor we are launching today is an eloquent testimony to our ability to build a resilient nation, fully integrated into regional and continental dynamics,” said President Assoumani. “It is a bridge between people, a vehicle for trade, cooperation and shared prosperity.”
The initiative is co-financed by several global partners, including the World Bank, the Islamic Development Bank, the French Development Agency (AFD), the European Union, and the European Investment Bank, mobilizing over US$110 million in additional funding. The Global Centre for Adaptation also supported the project by assessing climate risks and recommending infrastructure adaptation measures.
Comorian Minister of Maritime and Air Transport Yasmine Hassane Alfeine hailed the AfDB as “a loyal strategic partner whose technical and financial support consistently accompanies our vision for sustainable, integrated, and resilient infrastructure.”
The project aligns with the AfDB’s 2024–2033 Ten-Year Strategy and the “Four Cardinal Points” of its President Sidi Ould Tah, focusing on resilience, regional integration, and job creation. Once completed, it is expected to enhance agricultural and fisheries value chains and create thousands of jobs for young people and women.
“This flagship project of the Comoros Emerging Plan 2030 will strengthen the country’s economic backbone through value chain development and inclusive growth,” said Laté Lawson Zankli, AfDB Country Programme Advisor.
Since 1977, the African Development Bank Group has financed nearly 40 operations in Comoros, totaling about US$530 million, spanning transport, energy, agriculture, and governance. This new investment reaffirms the Bank’s commitment to helping the archipelago achieve sustainable and inclusive development.
Learn more via the African Development Bank and the official project page.
