2024-01-08 07:16:46
A few days before the start of the African Cup of Nations (CAN) in Ivory Coast, close-up on the economic benefits for Ivorian and foreign companies involved in the event.
With major sporting competitions, the return on investment is always a gamble for the host country. As evidence the previous edition in Cameroon, in the middle of Covid. The hopes of the organizers were disappointed, the CAN did not play the hoped-for role of growth accelerator. If the benefits are uncertain at the macro-economic level, on the other hand, there are always winners among the companies called upon to build the equipment and provide the services throughout the duration of the Cup.
Contracts
For the stadiums, it was Chinese companies that won the prize. Faithful to its stadium diplomacy deployed in all southern countries, Beijing “offered” Ivory Coast a prestigious stadium, built in Ebimpé, north of the capital Abidjan. With a capacity of 60,000 spectators, it is today the largest stadium in the country.
Read alsoCAN 2024: Ivory Coast, host country, in the sprint of the final preparations
The construction sites of the San Pedro and Korhogo stadiums have also been awarded to Chinese companies, associated with local groups, such as the Snedai subsidiary in San Pedro. The French subsidiary Vinci won the contract for the Yamoussoukro stadium as well as sections of roads. The Ivorian PFO Africa also benefited from a major contract to improve the road network.
Ivorian companies are very present during the competition. To ensure communication, catering and fan zone entertainment, there are many local players, sometimes with foreign companies, such as the Nigerian Insight Redefini and the French Publicis. It is in the tourism sector that the most significant benefits are expected. Ivorians remember that tourism revenues jumped by 30% in 2019 in Egypt thanks to the CAN. The national company also intends to ride the CAN effect. Air Côte d’Ivoire is the official carrier of the competition and also one of its sponsors.
Read alsoCAN 2024: Ivory Coast at the time of foot-business
Sponsors
CAN is a global communication medium increasingly appreciated by major brands. This is a key moment to attract the African market, and well beyond: the previous CAN attracted 500 million viewers from 160 countries. Sponsors are pouring in. The German equipment manufacturer Puma will provide the balloons, the Ivorian branch of the pan-African banking group Ecobank the means of payment.
Other sponsors include the Chinese Tecno in telecoms, Apsonic in motorcycles, the Ivorian Porteo in construction, and the French TotalEnergies, a long-standing partner of African football. The main sponsor of the competition is the Ivorian state, with an investment of around a billion euros in infrastructure, and it also hopes to take advantage of this world showcase which will last a month to attract tourists and investors. .
Read alsoCalendar and results of CAN 2024
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