CFAO opens first shopping mall in Africa

As most global corporate organizations wind up business for the year 2015, French distribution group CFAO has opened PlaYce shopping center in Abidjan’s Marcory district, Cote d’Ivoire.

The 66 million U.S. dollar centre in Cote d’Ivoire’s commercial capital is expected to be part of a major drive to tap into the growth of Africa’s middle class.

CFAO Retail CEO Xavier Desjobert explains that the PlaYce Marcory Shopping Centre is the first of several dozen centres operated by CFAO to be opened in eight other African countries.

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France's CFAO Opens First Playce Shopping Mall In Africa, Ivory Coast, Plans A Dozen More | The…… https://t.co/BfPzOxrs2L

— .TheORION.co.ke. (@theorionKENYA) December 19, 2015 Cote d’Ivoire’s President, Alassane Ouattara, who attended the opening ceremony said they will shop for Christmas gifts at the mall.

“I think Ivorians are happy. Prices have started to decrease and competition has begun. So good luck to us all.”

The mall will contain 50 stores, a bank and Burger King. It will also help develop the agricultural sector as 170 small Ivorian companies will be contracted as suppliers.

CFAO is active in the vehicle, pharmaceutical and computer sectors and 97 percent owned by Japanese company Toyota Tsusho Corporation.