China Harbor Engineering Corporation (CHEC), a subsidiary of China Communications Construction Company, signed a $774 million port expansion deal with Guinea's government on Oct. 24. The project includes two general berths, one bauxite ore berth, roads, parking lots and other auxiliary facilities.

Conakry Port is the fourth largest port in the West African region after Abidjan, Dakar and Lomé. It is the only port in the country designated for the import and export of oil, food and cement, and is therefore crucial for Guinea’s economy, as well as for the economies of Guinea's landlocked neighbors such as Mali.

The port's backward facilities and lack of handling capacity have seriously affected the economic and social development of Guinea.

"Upon completion of the Conakry Port Expansion Project, the port will become one of the most important ports in western Africa, and will drive the entire region's economic development," said Oyé Guilavogui, Minister of Transport of Guinea, at the signing ceremony.

According to Hawa Keita, head of the Port of Conakry, the deal will endow the Conakry Port with a more complete berth, storage facility and other features. The project will be the port's first upgrade since it was built in 1982.

Conakry Port is not only an important part of Guinea's government development plan, it is also a key strategic project in post-Ebola reconstruction. Through the project, CHEC hopes to further consolidate its position in Guinea's transportation infrastructure, thereby laying a foundation for long-term development in the entire West African region.

"The project will directly provide at least 500 jobs for local people, and generate jobs for 1,000 people in relevant industries," said Ding Jia Long , a manager in CHEC's Guinea office.