Over 2 billion USD to build the first cross-border railway in East Africa

Over the weekend, Tanzania and Burundi officially started construction of a modern standard gauge railway (SGR) connecting Uvinza in western Tanzania with Musongati in eastern Burundi, marking an important step forward in efforts to enhance infrastructure connectivity and integration in the East African region.

Burundi President and Tanzanian Prime Minister at the groundbreaking ceremony of the cross-border railway project. (Photo: Xinhua)

The 240-km railway project will become the first cross-border SGR in East Africa with a total cost of more than $2.15 billion and is expected to be completed within five years.

Tanzanian Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa pledged that the project would be implemented on schedule and that the railway would play a key role in boosting trade, reducing transport times and strengthening economic links between the two countries.

According to Mr. Majaliwa, after the above railway line is completed, passengers can travel from Musongati to Dar es Salaam in Tanzania in just one day and the time to transport goods from Dar es Salaam to Bujumbura will also be only 20 hours, instead of 96 hours by truck as at present.

The Tanzanian Head of Government also stressed that in addition to improving the movement of goods and passengers, the railway will open up new investment opportunities and play an important role in strengthening bilateral economic relations.

For his part, Burundian President Evariste Ndayishimiye described the project as “a dream coming true,” which will enable Burundi to more efficiently exploit its rich mineral resources, especially nickel. “Many people ask how we will transport the minerals,” he said. “This railway is the answer.”

In addition, Mr. Ndayishimiye also outlined the ambition to later extend the railway to the Kindu region in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo and eventually to the Atlantic coast in the West African region, forming a trans-African development corridor.

As an important transport corridor between Tanzania and Burundi, the cross-border railway is a key project, contributing to promoting regional economic development and accelerating the East African integration process./.

According to VNA

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/hon-2-ty-usd-xay-duong-sat-xuyen-bien-gioi-dau-tien-tai-khu-vuc-dong-phi-258563.htm