E. Africa launches transport project
Mar 26, 2006
A regional project aimed at facilitating smooth transportation and flow of goods across borders has been launched.
By Joyce Namutebi
A regional project aimed at facilitating smooth transportation and flow of goods across borders has been launched.
The East African Trade and Transport Facilitation Project funded by the World Bank (WB) and the African Development Bank (ADB) was launched by the Deputy Secretary General (Project and Programmes) of the East African Community, Dr. Kipyego Cheluget, on Friday.
The function held at the Imperial Resort Beach Hotel, Entebbe, was attended by delegations from Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, WB, ADB, the Northern Corridor Transit Transport Coordination Authority (NCTTCA) and JICA.
NCTTCA executive secretary Godfrey Onyango said the project would lead to a significant improvement of the transport system in the region.
He said transport costs account for 30 to 40% of the value of goods in the region, which is extremely high when compared to Southern Africa.
“The competitiveness of the countries of the East and Central African region in the global market is severely affected. In addition, intra-regional trade is curtailed,†Onyango said.
He said WB had injected US$199m (about sh362b) while negotiations were still going on with ADB.
Major project components include assistance to EAC to implement the Customs Union.
A regional project aimed at facilitating smooth transportation and flow of goods across borders has been launched.
The East African Trade and Transport Facilitation Project funded by the World Bank (WB) and the African Development Bank (ADB) was launched by the Deputy Secretary General (Project and Programmes) of the East African Community, Dr. Kipyego Cheluget, on Friday.
The function held at the Imperial Resort Beach Hotel, Entebbe, was attended by delegations from Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, WB, ADB, the Northern Corridor Transit Transport Coordination Authority (NCTTCA) and JICA.
NCTTCA executive secretary Godfrey Onyango said the project would lead to a significant improvement of the transport system in the region.
He said transport costs account for 30 to 40% of the value of goods in the region, which is extremely high when compared to Southern Africa.
“The competitiveness of the countries of the East and Central African region in the global market is severely affected. In addition, intra-regional trade is curtailed,†Onyango said.
He said WB had injected US$199m (about sh362b) while negotiations were still going on with ADB.
Major project components include assistance to EAC to implement the Customs Union.