French group Bolloré launched, on 9^th September, the reconstruction works of the 1,260 km railroad linking the Ivorian capital to Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso), with an investment of 400 million Euros over 5 years. “These works mark a new beginning, and an important turning point for our history”, raved Michel Roussin, president of the Board of International African Rail Transport Company (Société Internationale de Transport Africain par Rail - Sitarail), subsidiary of Bolloré in charge of this line.

“This project will enable to speed up the already growing movement of trade exchanges between our country and Burkina Faso since the end of the Ivorian crisis. The value of these exchanges has moved from about FCfa 165 billion (250 million Euros) in 2011 to approximately FCfa 290 billion (440 million Euros) in 2014”, indicated Ivorian Prime Minister Daniel Kablan Duncan.

The Abidjan-Ouagadougou line is the cheapest means of transportation for Ivorian industrials exporting to the hinterland. It is also the main outlet for landlocked countries such as Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso.

Bolloré holds 67% of the capital of Sitarail. The remainder is held for 15% each by Burkina Faso and Côte d’Ivoire, and 3% by the staff of the company.

Bolloré accelerated these last years the rhythm of its investments in rail transport in Africa. The family group with assets in industry and transport and more recently in advertising and media signed in August concession, construction and operation agreements for a railroad linking Niamey to Cotonou for an estimated cost of one billion Euros. This line of some 1,050 km represents a stretch of the 2,700 km long “Rail Loop” which is meant to link Côte d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso, Niger, Benin and Togo.