The President of the Union of the Comoros, Azali Assoumani, officially inaugurated the Maritime Corridor and Regional Trade Facilitation Project on 27 October 2025 in Moroni, marking a significant milestone in the nation’s maritime development agenda.
Valued at $137 million, the initiative is led by the African Development Bank Group (AfDB), with $135 million from the African Development Fund and an additional $2 million from the Transition Support Fund.
Key co-financiers include the World Bank, Islamic Development Bank, French Development Agency, European Union, and European Investment Bank, jointly contributing over $110 million.
Supported by the Global Centre for Adaptation, the project integrates climate-risk assessments for port infrastructure and explores resilience measures against maritime and coastal vulnerabilities.
The program’s primary goal is to modernise Comoros’ port facilities, enhance regional maritime connectivity, and strengthen the country’s position within the Mozambique Channel as a strategic logistics and transhipment hub linking Africa and Asia.
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President Assoumani highlighted the initiative as “a bridge between nations and a vehicle for trade, cooperation, and shared prosperity,” underscoring its role in positioning Comoros as a key maritime player in regional commerce.
Yasmine Hassane Alfeine, Minister of Maritime and Air Transport, praised the AfDB as “a trusted strategic partner” supporting Comoros’ vision for sustainable maritime development and resilient infrastructure. She noted that the project paves the way for potential special economic zone development and the modernisation of maritime assets.
Aligned with the AfDB’s 2024–2033 Ten-Year Strategy, the project will promote resilient infrastructure, expand fisheries and agricultural value chains, and generate employment opportunities—particularly for youth and women.
Laté Lawson Zankli, AfDB Country Programme Advisor, emphasised that the initiative is a flagship component of the Comoros Emerging Plan 2030, advancing the nation’s maritime economy while fostering inclusive growth across related sectors.
