Songon Oriental Park: Siandou Fofana Launches a 120 Billion FCFA Project Expected to Create 3,000 Jobs for Youth

As part of the implementation of Côte d’Ivoire’s national tourism development strategy “Sublime Côte d’Ivoire,” the Minister of Tourism and Leisure, Siandou Fofana, representing Prime Minister Robert Beugré Mambé, officially launched on Friday, June 12, 2026, the Songon Oriental Park project. This ambitious tourism and leisure development aims to sustainably transform the economic and social landscape of the Songon municipality within the Abidjan Autonomous District.

A flagship project under the “Sublime Côte d’Ivoire” strategy

With an estimated investment of over 120 billion FCFA in its first phase, the Songon Oriental Park is among the flagship projects of the government’s policy to enhance Côte d’Ivoire’s tourism attractiveness. This initial phase is expected to create 3,000 direct jobs, 90% of which will be reserved for young people from Songon, along with approximately 1,500 indirect jobs in hospitality, catering, and service sectors.

According to Minister Siandou Fofana, the project goes beyond its economic dimension. It reflects the government’s ambition to build modern, inclusive, and sustainable infrastructure while respecting host communities.

Major infrastructure to position Songon as a tourism hub

The Director General of Tourism and Hospitality Industry (DG-ITH), Dr. Klo Fagama, emphasized the participatory approach adopted for the project, ensuring local community engagement and compliance with commitments.

Presenting the project components, CRBC consortium spokesperson Thomas Zhaoi explained that the first phase will cover 120 hectares and include a large water park, children’s leisure areas, and a modern hotel.

The second phase will introduce a snow and ice complex—an unprecedented innovation in West Africa—as well as a conference hotel aimed at developing business tourism. A third phase will focus on land reserve development to support future expansion of the tourism market.

Strong social and economic impact

Beyond leisure infrastructure, the project includes a strong social component. It provides for the construction of a school, a medical center, a multi-purpose youth center, and the creation of a foundation dedicated to the socio-professional integration of young people and women.

The site will also feature modern infrastructure such as bus lines, soft mobility solutions, smart parking systems, fiber optic connectivity, and essential utility networks.

The Mayor of Songon, Gbrou Aloboué, alongside traditional leaders and community representatives, welcomed the initiative, highlighting its potential to enhance the territory and open new development opportunities for local populations.

According to the announced timeline, the foundation stone is expected to be laid in September 2026, construction to begin in January 2027, and the official opening of Songon Oriental Park scheduled for October 2028—an achievement that could establish a new tourism hub in Côte d’Ivoire and West Africa.