China inks $5.5b infrastructure construction contracts in Africa

A visitor talks with employees at the stand of China Railway Construction Corp (CRCC) at the 7th International Trade Fair for Construction Machinery, Building Material Machines, Construction Vehicles and Equipment, also known as bauma China 2014, in Shanghai, November 26, 2014. [Photo/IC]

BEIJING - Two big construction orders in Africa totalling nearly $5.5 billion have been signed by China's largest railway constructor, China Railway Construction Corp (CRCC).

The contracts, signed by CRCC China-Africa Construction Ltd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of CRCC, include a $3.51 billion contract for an inter-city railway project in Nigeria and a $1.93 billion residential construction project in Zimbabwe.

The Nigerian project further cements the company's leading role in the Nigerian construction industry, and is also a milestone in the "going global" of Chinese railway, said Meng Fengchao, board chairman of CRCC.

CRCC China-Africa Construction Ltd is now the largest rail transit contractor in Africa.