The Ivorian tourism landscape is about to undergo a true revolution. On Friday, June 12, 2026, the Minister of Tourism and Leisure, Siandou Fofana — acting on behalf of Prime Minister Robert Beugré Mambé — officially launched the Songon Oriental Park project.

As part of the national strategy "Sublime Côte d'Ivoire" , this large-scale initiative aims to transform this municipality in the Autonomous District of Abidjan into an essential economic and leisure hub.

📈 An economic engine: 120 billion FCFA and thousands of jobs

For its first phase alone, the project displays impressive quantified ambitions:

1. Investment: Over 120 billion FCFA.
2. Direct jobs: 3,000 positions to be filled, 90% of which are strictly reserved for local youth from Songon.
3. Indirect jobs: Approximately 1,500 opportunities in the restaurant, hotel and service sectors.

"This project embodies our commitment to building modern, inclusive and sustainable infrastructure, while respecting the communities that host it," stressed Minister Siandou Fofana, reaffirming his commitment to making Songon a leading center.

🏗️ Spectacular infrastructure in three phases

The CRBC (China Road and Bridge Corporation) consortium, represented by its spokesperson Thomas Zhaoi, detailed the deployment plan for this exceptional site:

Phase	Planned improvements
Phase 1 (120 hectares)	A giant water park, children's play areas and a modern hotel.
Phase 2	A "snow and ice" complex (a first in West Africa) and a conference hotel focused on business tourism.
Phase 3	Establishing a strategic land reserve to anticipate future market needs.

Dr. Klo Fagama, Director General of the Tourism and Hospitality Industry, has

It was also noted that the project follows a participatory and eco-responsible approach to ensure total support from local populations.

🤝 A strong social impact and modern connectivity

The Oriental Park will not just be a place of entertainment; it will be accompanied by a genuine community development plan:

1. Social infrastructure: Construction of a school, a medical center, a multipurpose youth center and creation of a foundation for the integration of women and young people.
2. Technology & Mobility: Deployment of fiber optics, dedicated bus lines, soft mobility solutions and smart parking.

The mayor of Songon, Gbrou Aloboué, supported by traditional chiefs, expressed his gratitude for this project which enhances the land and human heritage of his municipality.

🗓️ The work schedule

The countdown has begun for the realization of this megaproject:

1. September 2026: Laying of the foundation stone.
2. January 2027: Official launch of the construction project.
3. October 2028: Inauguration and opening of the doors to the public.

See you in 2028 to discover what is already shaping up to be one of West Africa's biggest attractions.