Recently, engineering and technical personnel from China Railway Eighth Bureau Group Co., Ltd. are completing the final on-site survey on an empty land in Port Glaud District, Mahe Island, Seychelles. A few days ago, this Chinese infrastructure company just won the bid notification for the Seychelles social housing project, officially extending its business scope to the western Indian Ocean islands.

136 housing units are about to rise from the ground

The project is located on Mahe Island, the main island of Seychelles, spanning the Port Glaud and Anse Royale districts. The construction tasks include the construction of 17 new residential buildings totaling 136 units, as well as outdoor facilities such as roads, parking spaces, and pipelines, and ancillary facilities such as sewage treatment stations and fences. After completion, it will effectively alleviate the local housing shortage and improve the living conditions of low-income families.

Foreign aid projects demonstrate infrastructure soft power

This is the first time that China Railway Eighth Bureau Group Co., Ltd. has entered the Seychelles market, and it is also another livelihood project to deepen China Africa cooperation under China's foreign aid framework. The project fully benchmarks local standards from design to construction, and details such as walls and aid signs fully reflect the standardized operation of Chinese aid projects. With the delivery of housing, the project will also create construction labor positions for the local area and drive local procurement of building materials and supporting service chains. Keywords: the Belt and Road news network, housing construction assistance

Deeply cultivating overseas markets and landing another child

China Railway Eighth Bureau Group Co., Ltd. has previously undertaken multiple railway and municipal projects in Africa, Southeast Asia, and other regions. This winning bid marks the extension of its overseas business from large-scale transportation infrastructure to the field of livelihood housing. As an island nation in East Africa, Seychelles has continuously increased its investment in affordable housing in recent years. Chinese companies are gradually entering this emerging market with their high efficiency and cost-effectiveness advantages. The physical carrier of China Africa cooperation, from the Tanzania Zambia Railway to the aid to Serbia housing, is moving from landmark projects to daily residences on the streets and alleys.Editor/Gao Xue