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China-Africa Trade Information Service
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China-Africa Trade Information Service
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Kampala — East African Community member states are required to raise $55b (Shs200 trillion) as collective contrition towards the implementation of proposed flagship infrastructure projects.
The projects once implemented will have high impact on regional integration and social-economic growth of the region.
Among the projects approved by the 4th Extraordinary Sectoral Council in a bid for intra -EAC bloc development/integration and connection to its neighbouring countries are;
The 1,443km-crude oil pipeline from Hoima (Uganda) to Tanga-Tanzania plus Hoima Oil Refinery in Uganda.
Construction of Mombasa - Nairobi - Malaba - Jinja Expressway (Kenya and Uganda); the development of EAC-based Airports and EAC Unified Upper Flight Information Region.
Speaking at the just at the regional fourth extraordinary sectoral council on transport, communication and meteorology (TCM) held in Arusha Tanzania last week, Uganda's State minister for Works and Transport, Mr Aggrey Bagiire the chair of the committee said: "Infrastructure plays an important role in promoting regional integration. Henceforth we need to continuously enhance capacities of existing infrastructure to cope with future demands and to meet International standards and requirements."
This regional committee sits regularly to monitor and update the heads of States' priority Infrastructure Projects, and to approve proposed flagship projects.
The EAC Deputy Secretary General in charge of Planning and Infrastructure, Mr Steven Mlote said: "The implementation of the proposed flagship projects required an investment amounting to more than $55 billion."
Mr Mlote called for joint efforts between all stakeholders including Partner States, co-operating partners and the private sector in order to realize the huge financial investments required for infrastructure development in the bloc.
Other projects
The construction to standard gauge railway of the Dar es Salaam - Isaka - Mwanza and Isaka -Kigali/ Keza -Gitega - Musongati (Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi.
The construction to standard gauge of Uvinza - Musongati Railway line (Tanzania and Burundi, Construction to standard gauge of the Mombasa - Nairobi - Malaba - Kampala-Kigali line with Malaba - Nimule Juba spur (Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda and South Sudan) Construction of Dar es Salaam to Chalinze Expressway (144km) in Tanzania.
Similarly, the LAPSSET corridor development (Kenya, South Sudan and Ethiopia), the construction of Rusizi Hydro power Project (Burundi, Rwanda and DRC), construction of Rufiji Hydropower Project at Stiegler's Gorge along the Rufiji River, 2100 MW (Tanzania), and development of Zanzibar Ports among are too among the flagship projects.
The meeting also approved "Development of Resilient Infrastructure to Accelerate Industrialisation, Support Trade to Foster Socio-Economic Transformation in the EAC" as the theme of the 4th HoS Infrastructure Retreat.
