The Export and Import Bank of China announced Jan. 13 that it would provide $200 million in credit to Nigeria to support construction of the country’s first communications satellite project, according to press reports.

The agreement with the Ministry of Finance of Nigeria calls for the construction of launch of the Nigcomsat-1 satellite aboard a Chinese Long March 3B rocket in 2007. The spacecraft, based on a Chinese platform, will provide telecommunications, broadcasting and broadband services to Nigeria.