EBOMAF-CI: Cross eyes on a win-win partnership

EBOMAF's first contract in Ivorian land is based on a Public-Private Partnership. The dynamism already shown by the President and Chief Executive Officer, Mahamadou Bonkoungou, in carrying out the work in the Poro and Tcholgo regions does not leave the authorities indifferent.

Daniel Kablan Duncan, Prime Minister, Minister of Economy, Finance and Budget: "A total cost of CFAF 83 billion, the project we are launching today, is entirely financed by the State of Côte d'Ivoire. It should end in 36 months. This is the place to recall the crucial role that EBOMAF, the contracting of works, must play. I think with the gear we saw in Ferkessédougou and Korhogo, there's no match as we say at home. I would also like to stress the crucial role that elected officials and administrative officials, each with regard to them, must play in keeping with the date of the end of the work. The 36-month period cannot and must not be exceeded. If the company completes the work in 24 months or 30 months, it will be his honour. We would particularly like to ask the CEO of EBOMAF to focus, as far as possible, on the recruitment of the local workforce. This is important because young people have included it in their solicitation. (...). Beyond the contractor, there is the wish of the Head of State to open up all regions of the country.

We are working to ensure that all regional and departmental capitals are accessible through bitumen. Our country has 85,000 km of roads, of which only 6,500 are bent. The President of the Republic instructed the Government to pay particular attention to the development of road infrastructure throughout the national territory. Particular attention is paid to the main axes and an order of their rehabilitation is drawn up so that all regional and departmental capitals are connected by bitumen. The aim is to build more modern roads to bring people closer together and the flow of production. These are essential projects and we are really happy to launch this road project in the regions of Poro and Tcholgo".

Mahamadou Bonkoungou, President and Chief Executive Officer of EBOMAF: "We are very pleased that the Ivorian authorities have placed their trust in our company by assigning it such important work. As you have seen yourself, the Ivorian government relies heavily on us for the successful implementation of this project.

Our ambition will be first of all to meet the challenge that the Ivorian authority has launched to us, that is to say to do well and quickly to hope to benefit from other road projects. Our company stands to hold such a bet. My determination would be to prove to the Ivorian authorities our capacity to implement the project within the required quality and deadlines. This is not a request that the Prime Minister made to us regarding the recruitment of the local workforce. It's an instruction. His will would be an order that we will respect. The value of the equipment we have deployed here exceeds the value of the contract we are going to perform.

Through this first contract, we plan to settle in this country to conquer other markets. Otherwise the equipment assigned to this project is not intended solely for this site. Humanly, we have enough. On some vests, you will read "EBOMAF Techno-Firmes", this is the name of our company in Madrid, Spain. We therefore have the human resources, as well as the financial and material resources to carry out such an important project and even more important than this one. By the will of God, the appointment of the 36 months will be respected".

Patrick Achi, Minister of Economic Infrastructure: "The road infrastructure that will be built in the Poro and Tcholgo regions will naturally be of quality. Because the work was entrusted to a quality company. The project is financed from the State budget and from a financial arrangement in which the contracting company, EBOMAS, took a major part.

This is an opportunity to thank him. There is no doubt that the project will be well implemented on time. Because we are convinced, after seeing the performance and quality that the contracting company already shows, that the CEO of EBOMAF wants to write, from this project, the first letters of nobility of his company in our country. We commend him for having already mobilized much of the necessary equipment and human resources. This asset is a determining factor in the success of the work, as it is not obvious in many construction sites. Mr. CEO, thank you for showing this example. We have no doubt that you will live up to the challenge we have set for you."

Interview by Sidibé PAGBELEGEMU