Chad has successfully secured substantial new financial backing from China. Two grant agreements, totaling 300 million Yuan—equivalent to approximately 44 million US dollars or more than 24 billion FCFA—were formalized on Thursday, August 20, in N’Djamena. These significant funds are earmarked to bolster critical infrastructure and social development initiatives, alongside advancements in digital technology and vocational training.
The two agreements allocate 100 million and 200 million Yuan, respectively. They were signed by Tahir Hamid Nguilin, the Minister of State for Finance, Budget, Economy, Planning, and International Cooperation, and Wang Xining, China’s Ambassador to Chad. Officials from Chad’s Ministry of Finance confirmed that these are outright grants, not loans. This crucial distinction means the 300 million Yuan provided will not contribute to Chad’s national debt, offering significant financial relief and flexibility.
Another key aspect highlighted by N’Djamena is the immediate availability of these resources. The Chadian government plans to direct them towards projects focused on infrastructure, social progress, digital technologies, and professional training. Minister Tahir Hamid Nguilin stated, “The two grants, of 100 and 200 million Yuan respectively, are immediately mobilizable.” He further indicated that particular emphasis would be placed on projects directly benefiting the populace, especially young people and women.
From infrastructure to digital advancement
The scope of these initiatives is notably broad. Ambassador Wang Xining clarified that China’s assistance aims to contribute to financing infrastructure and social projects, while also supporting the expansion of digital technologies and skills training. As of now, specific projects have not been publicly linked to either of the two financial envelopes. Furthermore, the exact distribution of the 300 million Yuan across various sectors has not been detailed. The practical application of these funds will become clearer as selected projects are identified and implemented. This represents a substantial opportunity, with over 24 billion FCFA becoming available for investments without the burden of additional borrowing.
This latest contribution follows another Chinese donation provided just weeks prior. On July 7, Beijing signed an agreement with N’Djamena for a 2 million US dollar grant, approximately 1.2 billion FCFA, specifically allocated for flood prevention and management. This funding was intended to bolster the country’s response capabilities after several particularly devastating episodes. In 2024, floods impacted an estimated 1.9 million individuals, resulted in 576 fatalities, and destroyed over 432,000 hectares of agricultural land, according to international humanitarian data.
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