The President of the Union of the Comoros, Azali Assoumani, officially launched the Maritime Corridor and Regional Trade Facilitation Project in a ceremony held on 27 October 2025 in Moroni. The project, financed by the African Development Bank (AfDB) Group with $137 million, represents a major step toward strengthening Comoros’ maritime infrastructure and boosting regional trade. Senior officials from the Bank attended the event, underscoring the project’s strategic importance for the island nation.
The AfDB Group’s support includes a $135 million grant from the African Development Fund, the Bank’s concessional arm, and an additional $2 million grant from the Transition Support Fund, designed for countries in transition. Several international partners, including the World Bank, Islamic Development Bank, French Development Agency, European Union, and European Investment Bank, are co-financing the project, mobilizing more than $110 million in supplementary funding. The Global Centre for Adaptation has also contributed by assessing climate risks to port infrastructure and identifying resilience measures for the project’s design.
The initiative seeks to modernize key port facilities that are vital for Comoros’ economic development, improve trade efficiency, and enhance regional connectivity. By leveraging its location in the Mozambique Channel, Comoros aims to establish itself as a logistics and trade hub linking Africa and Asia. President Assoumani described the maritime corridor as a “symbol of resilience and openness,” highlighting its role in promoting cooperation, trade, and shared prosperity across the region.
Minister of Maritime and Air Transport, Yasmine Hassane Alfeine, acknowledged the African Development Bank Group as a steadfast partner in advancing sustainable infrastructure and regional integration. She noted that the project marks a significant step in the modernization of Comoros’ maritime sector and will support the creation of a special economic zone. The project aligns with the AfDB’s 2024–2033 Ten-Year Strategy and its “Four Cardinal Points” vision, focusing on resilient infrastructure, value chain development, and job creation—particularly for youth and women.
Laté Lawson Zankli, Country Programme Advisor representing the AfDB at the launch, emphasized that the initiative is a flagship component of the Comoros Emerging Plan 2030. It will strengthen agricultural and fisheries value chains while fostering inclusive economic growth. Since its partnership began in 1977, the AfDB Group has financed nearly 40 operations in Comoros totaling around $530 million, covering key sectors such as transport, energy, agriculture, and governance. This new maritime corridor project reinforces the Bank’s long-standing commitment to supporting Comoros’ sustainable and resilient development.
