MODERN CARGO TRAINS LAUNCHED IN DAR ES SALAAM

Burundi President, Pierre Nkurunziza flags off a cargo train destined for his country in Dar es Salaam yesterday March 25, 2015. Four block trains aimed at easing the movement of cargo to four countries; Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda and Eastern Demographic Republic of Congo were inaugurated in the city. The Burundi leader is flanked by his host, President Jakaya Kikwete and other officials.

Four modern cargo trains that will operate from Dar es Salaam to landlocked neighbouring countries were launched at a colourful ceremony on Wednesday.

The launching was witnessed by President Jakaya Kikwete, Uganda's Yoweri Museveni, Pierre Nkurunziza of Burundi.Rwanda was represented by minister for infrastructure, Mr James Musoni, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) by infrastructure minister, Mr Justine Mwanangongo and Kenya by foreign affairs minister, Ms Amina Muhamed.

The launch was preceded by a meeting to discuss the progress of the Central Corridor, a multi-modal trade and transport passage which links Tanzania's main port of Dar es Salaam with the neighbouring landlocked countries

Earlier, speaking at the opening of the meeting, President Kikwete said another project to build a central railway line from Dar es Salaam to Msongati would start in June, this year.

"The construction would take four years to complete," he said,

He added that the work was going to start from Dar es Salaam-Isaka-Kigali-Kitega/Keza toMsongati and would be implemented by a contractor M/s CANARAIL/GIBB Africa.

He said it was important to expedite growth of cross-border infrastructure projects aimed at boosting trade and economic integration in the region.

On Wednesday's development comes as the government has highlighted plans to upgrade its railway line and connect inland countries like Zambia, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and eastern DRC to Dar es Salaam port through a 1,300 km central corridor.

Mr Kikwete said that with Kenya planning the development of a 1,700 km northern corridor to link Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and the DRC to its Mombasa port, the two infrastructure corridors could work to complement one another.

He noted that he would be glad to see the northern and central corridors infrastructure as one block in the future.

He said the DRC and Zambia had also expressed interest to join central corridor infrastructure investments, adding that his government was taking measures to curb non-tariff barriers to trade in the region, which included reducing the number of weigh bridges and cumbersome police and customs check points on its road networks.

Speaking at the meeting, President Museveni urged fellow EAC member states to remove impediments to trade and regional integration.

Also at the meeting, the EAC Secretary General, Richard Sezibera, said the central and northern corridor projects would be harmonised and coordinated to achieve a common regional development goal.

Rwanda's infrastructure minister Musoni said the meeting had added impetus to development plans of the region.

Kenya's foreign minister, Ms Mohammed said Kenya attended to show solidarity to the region development agenda.

She said much of the transport costs to the tune of 30 to 40 per cent can be reduced, adding that there is need for stakeholders to discuss how to remove barriers that increase such costs.

Meanwhile, President Museveni has said the central corridor would only prosper when member states identify challenges facing their people in the region.

Addressing the Central Corridor conference, Mr Museveni said it was vital for major stakeholders to benefit from the Central Corridor.

He named the major stakeholders of the Central Corridor as business people, farmers, industrialists and the service providers.

'I've witnessed improvement in economics and politics for the past 15 years. We must focus on the best ways to improve agriculture, industries and the service provision in the Central Corridor," said the Ugandan President at the meeting which brings together leaders of the East and Central Africa.

Mr Museveni pointed out lack of security, education and markets for the products as major challenges for the prosperity of the Central Corridor and that the region should unravel the problems.

The Central Corridor is formed of Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo and Tanzania.

He cited factors which contribute to the prosperity as the cost of business and the infrastructures.

"If we will identify factors which hinder the nations' prosperity the Central Corridor will grow," he said.

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