East African Business Week.
DAR ES SALAAM, TANZANIA-The East Africa partner states will realize improvement in their economy and increase trading within the region if infrastructure in the region is given the needed attention.
Speaking during the 3rd East and Central Africa roads and rail summit in Dar es Salaam last week, the Deputy Minister for Works, Mr. Charles Tibeza, said there was need for the regional block to improve the interconnection of both rail and road infrastructure in order to advance trade and the economy in the respective countries.
Tibeza said the rail and road networks were crucial in the region if the bloc was to move forward into attaining the required trade and economic growth both as a country and to its citizen as well.
"Effective and efficiency of roads and rail infrastructure facilitate trade in countries be it in the developed and or developing countries," the deputy minister said.
He noted that there was need to revamp the rail network in the East African region that dates back to colonial period in order to make it capable to transport more wagons and goods.
"The dilapidated rail network in the region is a result of lack of investment in the rail transportation system that needs to be looked upon" Tibeza said.
The rail and road 2012 summit brought together stake holders from around the world including both in the rail and road to discuss both the investments in road and rail infrastructure system and see on how good infrastructure can play its role in improving the economy of the regional countries and beyond.
The deputy minister noted that there has been the abandonment to branches of the rail networks in the region due to lack of capital and that revamping the same would mean easing the cost of transportation in the region.
The minister also noted that Tanzania Zambia Railway (TAZARA) had already set $8.5 million with the help of the Chinese government to conduct a visibility study aimed at making it competitive within the region.
He said that with the regional block moving towards a common market it was important for the region to focus much on projects that would be aimed at improving the whole regional blocs.
"We should think of wider connectivity that should be fast tracked within the region in order to open up development to the wider great lakes region," Tibeza said.
He noted that Tanzania's geographical position has the potential of agriculture, mining and tourism which could stand at a better opportunity if all the eight countries bordering it enjoyed good infrastructure.
He urged the private sector to come in and help the government to make sure that infrastructure in the region is given the needed priority as it was the key to attaining the economic development.
The Managing Director of TAZARA, Mr. Akashambatwa Lewanika said that the TAZARA would soon overcome the hand to mouth custom and lay its foundation so as to become both sustainable and consistent in order to recapitalize itself.
Mr. Lewanika said there has been a problem on how to find finances for running the corporation in order to transform it from a corporate business between two countries to a business oriented entity that may include share holding.
Speaking during the 3rd East and Central Africa roads and rail summit in Dar es Salaam last week, the Deputy Minister for Works, Mr. Charles Tibeza, said there was need for the regional block to improve the interconnection of both rail and road infrastructure in order to advance trade and the economy in the respective countries.
Tibeza said the rail and road networks were crucial in the region if the bloc was to move forward into attaining the required trade and economic growth both as a country and to its citizen as well.
"Effective and efficiency of roads and rail infrastructure facilitate trade in countries be it in the developed and or developing countries," the deputy minister said.
He noted that there was need to revamp the rail network in the East African region that dates back to colonial period in order to make it capable to transport more wagons and goods.
"The dilapidated rail network in the region is a result of lack of investment in the rail transportation system that needs to be looked upon" Tibeza said.
The rail and road 2012 summit brought together stake holders from around the world including both in the rail and road to discuss both the investments in road and rail infrastructure system and see on how good infrastructure can play its role in improving the economy of the regional countries and beyond.
The deputy minister noted that there has been the abandonment to branches of the rail networks in the region due to lack of capital and that revamping the same would mean easing the cost of transportation in the region.
The minister also noted that Tanzania Zambia Railway (TAZARA) had already set $8.5 million with the help of the Chinese government to conduct a visibility study aimed at making it competitive within the region.
He said that with the regional block moving towards a common market it was important for the region to focus much on projects that would be aimed at improving the whole regional blocs.
"We should think of wider connectivity that should be fast tracked within the region in order to open up development to the wider great lakes region," Tibeza said.
He noted that Tanzania's geographical position has the potential of agriculture, mining and tourism which could stand at a better opportunity if all the eight countries bordering it enjoyed good infrastructure.
He urged the private sector to come in and help the government to make sure that infrastructure in the region is given the needed priority as it was the key to attaining the economic development.
The Managing Director of TAZARA, Mr. Akashambatwa Lewanika said that the TAZARA would soon overcome the hand to mouth custom and lay its foundation so as to become both sustainable and consistent in order to recapitalize itself.
Mr. Lewanika said there has been a problem on how to find finances for running the corporation in order to transform it from a corporate business between two countries to a business oriented entity that may include share holding.
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