Tanzanian transport system gets $5bn

13 August 2009

The transport system in Tanzania is to be improved via $5 billion (£3.02 billion) the country will spend on it over the next half-decade, it was announced this week.

Bloomberg reports that infrastructure development minister Shukuru Kawambwa announced at a conference in Dar es Salaam that roads, ferries, airports, railways, roads and ports will be developed.

The plans form part of Tanzania's transport investment programme as the systems currently in place cannot cope with increasing demand, he said.

According to the news provider, he suggested the involvement of private investors would be necessary to afford the upgrades - although he did not divulge any details.

"It is expected that by 2018, all trunk roads will be paved, thus enabling all regional centres to be linked with paved roads and all district headquarters to be linked with all weather roads," Mr Kawambwa.

In related infrastructure developments, Tanzania was one of the east African countries to finally be able to use broadband internet after the Seacom fibre optic undersea cable was switched on recently.

Category: Transport