One of the landmark projects of the Belt and Road Initiative is the expansion of Abidjan port in Cote d'Ivoire. It's the largest commercial port in West Africa, and has recently signed a cooperation deal with Guangzhou Port Authority. The new facilities mean large ships from Asia, Europe and America no longer have to stop in South Africa and move the goods to smaller vessels, in order to reach West Africa and landlocked nations in the north. 

As China celebrates 40 years of diplomatic ties with Cote d'Ivoire, efforts to grow bilateral trade will require investments in both infrastructure and skills. Experts argue that Africa has a sizable and young population but high unemployment remains a bottleneck. Vocational education will be key to helping the continent achieve sustainable growth.