The Santou-Houda mining zone in Guinea is 125 kilometers away from the Port of Dapilon. In order to transport the bauxite from the mine to the port, Winning Consortium Simandou, led by Shandong Weiqiao Pioneering Group built a railway with a total investment of 14 billion US dollars. On June 16, 2021, the Dapilon-Santou Railway opened for operation, marking the first modern railway built in Guinea since the 1970s.

To cultivate more local technical talents, the Winning Consortium, in collaboration with the University of Conakry in Guinea and Hunan University of High-Speed Railway Technology, established the Railway College in Guinea. The college started admissions in 2020 and has now over 300 graduates. Among them is 24-year-old Fanta. At first, Fanta wanted to be a maintenance inspector. Later she changed her mind. 

Bangoura Fanta, Guinea resident

I met my last teacher at the railway college, and he is a train driver in China.  So I wanted to be a train driver like him. 

With the guidance of her Chinese teachers and through her own hard practice, her train driving skills have greatly improved, and her dream is about to come true. 

Bangoura Fanta, Guinea resident

Now I finally have the opportunity to drive a train, and I think I will become the first female train driver in Guinea.

Camara Mohamed Thomas Lucas, HR Manager, Mining Company of Boke

Working with my Chinese colleagues feels very relaxed. They are like family. In this context, there is a fruitful exchange of cultures between the two countries.

According to the International Monetary Fund's calculations, the Winning Consortium's contribution to Guinea's GDP growth is above 10%, offering employment for over 10,000 local residents and providing livelihoods for nearly 200,000 people.

Kong Chuidi for Shandian News