On September 14, 2016, the Ivorian government announced that it has selected the Italy-Swiss group Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) and Emirati Bilal Group for the project to relocate and expand the container terminal of the San-Pedro Autonomous port (South West).

“In the framework of the strategic plan for the San-Pedro harbour which is part of the 2016-2020 National Development Plan, the government has selected MSC and Bilal group to carry out relocation and expansion works for the container terminal, and extend protection structures,” government spokesperson, Bruno Nagbané Koné said at a press conference held after a Council of Ministers presided by the Head of State, Alasssane Ouattara.

“These works will be carried out on the BOT (Build Operate Transfer) model with no guarantee from the Ivorian government,” he added.

Koné added that MSC and Bilal Group will invest FCFA308 billion or $528 million (FCFA122 billion from MSC and FCFA186 billion from Bilal Group) in the project.

Works should start before the end of September 2016.