The Agency for Aerial Navigation Safety in Africa and Madagascar (L'Agence pour la Sécurité de la Navigation aérienne en Afrique et à Madagascar - ASECNA) has secured a loan of USD39.43million (EUR30million) from the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, to finance part of its renovation plan, which includes the acquisition of new equipment and the refurbishment of buildings. These investments will allow ASECNA to continue improving the quality of its services and to maintain its perfect safety track record. 
A pan-African air navigation service provider, ASECNA operates in 17 West and Central African countries and Madagascar. It plans to purchase new airport navigation equipment, energy and communication infrastructure, and will renovate its control tower buildings in most of these locations.
Vincent Gouarne, IFC Global Industry Director for Infrastructure and Natural Resources, said:
“This agreement marks the beginning of cooperation between ASECNA and IFC to support the development of a safe aviation sector in Sub-Saharan Africa. IFC is committed to promoting increased investment in infrastructure that is vital for Africa’s continued economic development.”
ASECNA is responsible for the design, implementation and management of facilities and services related to the transmission of messages and traffic information, guiding aircraft, air traffic control, forecasting and reporting meteorological information, for traffic routing, approach and landing at airports in its African member states.
Created in 1959 by agreement between the then-French colonies in Africa, it is composed of 18 member countries: Benin, Guinea Bissau, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Congo, Cote d’Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, France, Gabon, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Senegal, and Togo.
