The African Development Bank (AfDB) has committed $2.5 billion to the development of priority infrastructure projects in Tanzania, as announced by the East African Community (EAC).
Mumina Wa-Kyendo, the AfDB’s Chief Transport Engineer in Tanzania, specified on Thursday that the projects benefiting from these funds will include the Tanzanian section of the 400 km Tanzania-Kenya road connecting Bagamoyo, Pangani, Tanga, Horohoro/Lunga Lunga, Mombasa, and Malindi.
This road, currently under construction in both countries, is part of the East African Coastal Transport Corridor, which extends from Lamu, Kenya, to Mtwara, Tanzania.
Mr. Wa-Kyendo discussed this funding in Tanga (northwest) at the end of a two-day inspection mission of the Bagamoyo-Pangani-Tanga road section by experts from the EAC Secretariat, the Tanzanian Ministries of Transport and Public Works, the Kenyan Ministry of Roads and Infrastructure, the Northern Corridor Transit and Transport Coordination Authority, and the Central Corridor Transit Transport Facilitation Agency, according to an EAC statement.
He emphasized that the development of transport infrastructure is a key factor in facilitating trade and integration among countries. According to him, “we need to have a region where transport works, establishing roads and railways meeting the best standards.”
This AfDB funding is conditional upon the effective implementation of the projects, which is essential to unlock additional funds, according to Mr. Wa-Kyendo, as cited by the EAC.
