Tanzania and Burundi have signed an agreement to construct a $900m railway line Tanzania’s finance ministry said on Sunday.
The 282km line will link Uvinza with Gitega to boost regional trade.
“The minister of finance in Burundi and I are starting to look for areas where we can raise money to implement this project” Mwigulu Nchemba, Tanzania’s finance minister said in the statement.
“This project is important for Tanzania, Burundi and even Congo who use the Port of Dar es Salaam to transport cargo.”
1/2 Leo nikishirikiana na Waziri wa Ujenzi na Uchukuzi, Prof. Makame Mbarawa, tumetia saini za awali za makubaliano ya pamoja na Serikali ya Burundi kwa ajili ya utekelezaji wa Mradi wa Ujenzi wa Reli ya Kisasa (SGR) kutokea Uvinza-🇹🇿 hadi Gitega-Burundi 🇧🇮 yenye urefu wa KM 282. pic.twitter.com/YzUJPBRCjX
— Mwigulu Nchemba, PhD (@mwigulunchemba1) January 16, 2022
2/2 Tumekubaliana na Waziri wa Fedha wa Burundi kuangalia maeneo ambayo tunadhani tunaweza kupata fedha kwa ajili ya utekelezaji wa mradi huu.
Mradi huu ni muhimu kwa Tanzania, Burundi na hata Congo ambao hutumia Bandari ya Dar es Salaam kusafirisha mizigo. pic.twitter.com/tGSXHMzx4u
— Mwigulu Nchemba, PhD (@mwigulunchemba1) January 16, 2022
Tanzania commenced the construction of the first 1,219 km phase, connecting Dar es Salaam to the city of Mwanza. In December, the country signed a contract with Turkish firm Yapi Merkezi to build a 368 km stretch (Lot 3) connecting Makutopora to the northwestern region of Tabora.
Yapi Merkezi is also building Lots 1 and 2 of the Dar es Salaam-Mwanza Railway.
President Samia Suluhu said Tanzania will borrow to finance the project.
“We will find friendly loan facilities and the best ways to get loans. We won’t get this money from levies or from domestic taxes. We will continue to implement projects despite efforts to discourage us from borrowing. Even developed countries have debts. We will borrow to complete the development projects we have initiated,” she said.
Serikali kujenga Reli ya Kisasa kwenda Burundi, Rwanda na Kongo pic.twitter.com/esHFQJnRdM
— Tanzania Railways Corporation (@tzrailways) January 1, 2022
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