On September, 26, 1992,Tianjin and Abidjan became sister cities. Abidjan is the economic and former official capital of Côte d'Ivoire. It is the largest city in the nation, and the third largest French speaking city in the world. It has a total area of 2,119 km², and a city population of 3,802,000(2007). The city stands in Ébri¨¦ Lagoon on several converging peninsulas and islands, connected by bridges. Considered a cultural hub of West Africa or Africa, Abidjan in the 21st century is characterized by high industrialization and urbanization. The completion of the Vridi Canal in 1951 enabled it to become an important sea port. In 1983, Yamoussoukro was designated as the nation's capital, but most government offices and foreign embassies are still in Abidjan. The city has been the key of the economic developing of Côte d'Ivoire. Major industries in Abidjan include food processing, lumber, automobile manufacturing, and the manufacture of textiles, chemicals, and soap. There is also a large oil refinery. Kalys Engineering, an US based company presided by an ivorian is initiating a homegrow business in Civil Engineering,Environment and the production of Clean Energy from biomass and Municipal Solid Waste. In recent years, Kalys Engineering, in partnership with Groupe Eoulee and US world class companies, will get the Akouedo landfill in the production of the Electricity and /or bio-fuel from an average of 1000 tons/day garbage dumped over 3000 tons/day generated by the town of Abidjan. The principal stock exchange of the country, the Bourse R¨¦gionale des Valeurs Mobili¨¨res (BRVM), is located in the city. Air Ivoire has its head office in Abidjan. Abidjan port is the largest crude port in West Africa. It is also an important distributing center for imported and exported products and the neighbor countries. The port's annual handling capacity is 8.4 million tons. Abidjan is the largest airport in West Africa. There are 20 foreign air companies. In Abidjan, there is a road net that connects every province and city. The net also link to the neighbor countries. |
