$ 300 MILLION WORLD BANK-FUNDED TANZANIAN TRANSPORT PROJECTS TO BE DISCUSSED

Several major transportation sector infrastructure projects - including the Tanzanian Railway being financed by the World Bank to create a much-needed regional gateway - will be discussed at the 5th East & Central Africa Roads & Rail Infrastructure Summit 2014, to be held on August 26-27 in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

“Improving transportation and logistics infrastructure is key to the greater economic development of the entire region. With the recent discovery of more mineral potential in some of the countries, the pressure for transportation networks and linkages is more urgent than ever. This Summit will facilitate the exchange of fresh information, present new projects and engage industry stakeholders on viable project,” the CEO of the conference-organizing company, Magenta Global Pty Ltd, Singapore, Maggie Tan said.

Dr. Harrison Mwakyembe, Tanzania’s Minister of Transport, will deliver opening remarks at this fifth edition of the two-day annual industry gathering of East and Central African transport sector stakeholders.

"The Ministry of Transport of the United Republic of Tanzania presents its best greeting and compliments and would like to invite you to the 5th East & Central Africa Roads & Rail Infrastructure Summit & Expo which will be hosted in Dar es Salaam under the sponsorship of Magenta Global, Singapore,” Dr. Mwakyembe said in a statement.

He said that the meeting will bring together my counterparts from Rwanda, Burundi, Kenya, Uganda, Zambia, Ethiopia and Democratic Republic of Congo amongst others, project investors and developers as well as the most appropriate technologies and innovative manufacturers.

Regional railway authorities on-hand presenting their current projects include: Kenya Railways' Project Manager, Engineer Solomon Ouna, updating on the major cross-countries railway project between Mombasa and Kigali; and Pierrot Kasonga, the Democratic Republic of Congo's (DRC) Director of Regional Planning and Transport Economist at the Ministry of Planning, discussing private state enterprises in the DRC public partnership, along with identifying new business opportunities with other partners.

Other government representatives participating from around the East & Central Africa region include: Apollo Kashanku, Senior Transport Economist, Ministry of Works and Transport, Uganda; Edouard Nyandwi, Principal Technical Adviser, Cabinet of the Minister of Transport and Public Works, Burundi; and Dr. Mahabubul Bari, Transport Adviser, Ministry of Infrastructure, Rwanda.

Regional transport sector stakeholders joining in the dialogue include: Philip Wambugu, Director of Infrastructure, East Africa Community (EAC); Ronah Serwadda, Commissioner, Ministry of East African Community Affairs (MEACA), Uganda; and Merian Sebunya Kyomugisha, Chairperson, Uganda Freight Forwarders Association (UFFA) and Managing Director, BTS Clearing and Forwarding Ltd.

Finance experts from Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and German Investment & Development Corporation DEG will also shed light on their current development assistance projects.

A showcase of some of the innovative technologies and products is another highlight of this year’s Summit.

"Our participation last year highlighted the need and potential for Osborn’s range of material handling equipment (RSA built), and our holding company Astec’s (USA built), range of construction, asphalt and mobile asphalt paving equipment. With the need for new roads, rail and utilities in the East African region, this 5th Roads & Rail 2014 conference and exhibition gives us the perfect platform to market and promote our products to the role players attending," Bulk materials handling products and systems expert and event exhibitor, Osborne Engineered Products SA Pty Ltd's sales director, Noel Bessler said.

The 2014 Summit is endorsed by Tanzania's Ministry of Transport (MoT) and the Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA).