BabuK
JF-Expert Member
- Jul 30, 2008
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Tanzania and Uganda yesterday signed an agreement with a Chinese Civil Engineering Construction Corporation for the construction of Tanga-Arusha and Musoma-Uganda railway for speeding up linkages between the East African economies.
Under the USD 450 million project, the Chineses Civil Engineering Construction Corporation has been commissioned to conduct a feasibility study and implementation of the project, said Transport Minister, Omar Nundu.
The two countries also signed the USD3billion Memorandum of Understanding for the development of the railway line and the three ports.
Both countries have agreed to contribute funds for the construction of the railway line and the Mwanabari port facility in Tanga, Musoma and Uganda, he noted.
We hope implementation will start very soon and that the feasibility study will take between three and six months and the project completed by 2015, said Nundu.
The minister described improved infrastructures as instrumental in promoting EAC economic integration, thus enhancing growth and development among regional partner states.
The railway and ports will facilitate the flow of commodities and simplify movements in both areas, using the railways and modern ports that will be built in Tanga, Musoma and Uganda.
Dr Chebrat Slepher, the Uganda minister for Transport said there is no way development can be achieved without clearly defined means of transport.
He said with limited infrastructure facilities no country can develop economically, socially or intellectually.
The most interesting part of this project is that it would reduce congestion at Mombasa port. Residents and traders from Tanzania or Uganda will not have to worry about wasting time in long queues waiting to offload or load their goods now, there are many options, he said.
For his part, Managing Director of CCEC, Wang Xiangdong assured the two governments that experts would soon start conducting feasibility study on the project, and that they were expected to arrive in the country next week.
He said feasibility will take up to April next year followed by the construction of the railway line and ports in the identified areas.
This time the construction of the railway line will be enlarged to 1,435mm which is the standard gauge used in other countries and directed by the both governments he explained.
Xiangdong said his company will be willing to offer technical and administrative training to all staffs using local individuals.
The two East African Community partner states are out to put up a Tanga-Arusha-Musoma railway line and ports at Tanga (Mwambani) and Musoma in Tanzania and Kampala in Uganda.
Under the USD 450 million project, the Chineses Civil Engineering Construction Corporation has been commissioned to conduct a feasibility study and implementation of the project, said Transport Minister, Omar Nundu.
The two countries also signed the USD3billion Memorandum of Understanding for the development of the railway line and the three ports.
Both countries have agreed to contribute funds for the construction of the railway line and the Mwanabari port facility in Tanga, Musoma and Uganda, he noted.
We hope implementation will start very soon and that the feasibility study will take between three and six months and the project completed by 2015, said Nundu.
The minister described improved infrastructures as instrumental in promoting EAC economic integration, thus enhancing growth and development among regional partner states.
The railway and ports will facilitate the flow of commodities and simplify movements in both areas, using the railways and modern ports that will be built in Tanga, Musoma and Uganda.
Dr Chebrat Slepher, the Uganda minister for Transport said there is no way development can be achieved without clearly defined means of transport.
He said with limited infrastructure facilities no country can develop economically, socially or intellectually.
The most interesting part of this project is that it would reduce congestion at Mombasa port. Residents and traders from Tanzania or Uganda will not have to worry about wasting time in long queues waiting to offload or load their goods now, there are many options, he said.
For his part, Managing Director of CCEC, Wang Xiangdong assured the two governments that experts would soon start conducting feasibility study on the project, and that they were expected to arrive in the country next week.
He said feasibility will take up to April next year followed by the construction of the railway line and ports in the identified areas.
This time the construction of the railway line will be enlarged to 1,435mm which is the standard gauge used in other countries and directed by the both governments he explained.
Xiangdong said his company will be willing to offer technical and administrative training to all staffs using local individuals.
The two East African Community partner states are out to put up a Tanga-Arusha-Musoma railway line and ports at Tanga (Mwambani) and Musoma in Tanzania and Kampala in Uganda.
SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN
