PRESS STATEMENT: Integrated Corridor Development - Lake tanganyika Transport Programme Press Briefing

Posted in Official Statement

PRESS STATEMENT BY AMB. LIBERAT MFUMUKEKO, EAC SECRETARY GENERAL DURING THE MEDIA BRIEFING ON THE WORKSHOP ON THE INTEGRATED CORRIDOR DEVELOPMENT – LAKE TANGANYIKA TRANSPORT PROGRAMME

31^ST OCTOBER 2017, BUJUMBURA BURUNDI

Members of the Media

• Thank you all for taking time to come and provide media coverage for this workshop on the Lake Tanganyika Transport Programme.

• This workshop has been organised by the EAC Secretariat in collaboration with the Central Corridor Transport Facilitation Agency and the World Bank.

• The EAC places great importance to the wellbeing of its people and recognizes that an integrated and efficient transport system serves as a prime mover for socio-economic development for our region.

• The EAC is committed to delivering an integrated transport system and the Lake Tanganyika Transport Programme in particular.

• The Lake Tanganyika Transport Programme represents yet another coordinated initiative between Partners States, Development Partners and Regional Organizations to deliver an integrated, efficient and cost effective transport system for our countries and regions.

• Lake Tanganyika is uniquely placed to provide intermodal linkages between Tripartite Regional Economic blocks of EAC, COMESA and SADC and therefore a critical conduit not only for transport needs but also for wider economic benefits.

• The Intermodal Strategy was one of the key documents that were endorsed for implementation by the EAC Heads of State during their 3^rd Retreat on Infrastructure Development and financing that was held on 29^th November, 2014 in Nairobi, Kenya.

• The implementation of the intermodal Strategy commenced in 2015 with the Lake Victoria Transport Programme covering projects in Uganda, Tanzania and Rwanda with support the World Bank and DFID. The World Bank has committed approximately US$600 million has been committed by the WB for the Lake Victoria Transport project and more than US$100 million has been approved by the WB for the Rwandan components.

• The World Bank has further committed about US$500 million to support the Lake Tanganyika Transport Programme. However, we also require the support of other Development Partners for project uptakes, co-financing and blending.      

• The importance of infrastructure and efficient transport system to the regional economic development in the EAC remain imperative. It is also apparent that required investment to deliver infrastructure projects to bridge the existing infrastructure deficit at a desired pace, cannot be achieved by respective Governments singlehandedly.

• Investment in infrastructure projects continues to receive the utmost political attention by no other than EAC Heads of States as expressed during their biennial retreats on infrastructure development and financing.

• Some infrastructure and transport facilitation initiatives in which EAC has been in some of which link to the Lake Tanganyika Basin. Some of the initiatives spearheaded by EAC include:

1. Lake Victoria Transport Program in Partnership with the World Bank
2. Completed and ongoing feasibility Studies and designs for multinational roads linking Partner States, namely:

• Tanzania – Burundi: Nyakanazi - Kasulu – Manyovu/Rumonge – Bujumbura roads including the Manyovu/Mugina One Stop Border Posts with support from AfDB
• Tanzania – Rwanda: Rusahunga – Rusumo/Kayonza – Kigali supported by AfDB
• Uganda – Tanzania: Masaka – Mutukula – Kyaka/Bugene – Kasulo – Kumunazi negotiations with AfDB at advance stage
• Tanzania-Kenya: Malindi – Mombasa – Lunga Lunga/Tanga – Pangani – Bagamoyo (AfDB)
• Arusha – Holili/Taveta Voi
• Several one stop border posts (OSBPs)

• Lake Victoria Water and Sanitation Program supported by AfDB

1. Lake Victoria Environmental Management Project supported by WB
2. Multi-National Lake Victoria Maritime Communications and Transport (MNLVMCT) Project supported by ADF and EU
3. Tripartite Transport and Transit Facilitation Programme in partnership with COMESA and SADC with support from EU

• The East African Standardised Curriculum for Drivers of Large Commercial Vehicles with support from TMEA
• Vehicle Load Control Act, 2016 and the One Stop Border Posts Act, 2016 and now the

1. Lake Tanganyika Transport Programme

• The above highlighted initiatives are a clear manifestation of the efforts and commitment made by the EAC in the implementation of infrastructure and transport facilitation in the region.

• The EAC fully supports to the Lake Tanganyika Transport Programme and will work closely with the World Bank, other Development Partners, our sister institutions Central Corridor Transport Facilitation Authority and the Lake Tanganyika Authority to expeditiously deliver the Programme.

I thank you for your attention.