The Turbi-Moyale road project was launched this week by Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki.

The road construction project which links Ethiopia and Kenya is a positive development for trade between the two countries.

The construction of the road, which will cost about US$176 million “will have a big impact on the wider East Africa region in terms of trade and regional integration,” President Kibaki said.

He also noted that this key route will boost trade between the African states as well as open up Northern Kenya to more trade and business.  The amount of Ethiopian goods passing through the port of Mombasa should also substantially increase.

President Kibaki added that Kenya expected “that upon completion, this road will result in reduction of transport costs, shortening of transit times for imports and exports, and reduction in vehicle operating costs”.

The Turbi-Moyale road is the final Kenyan section of the Trans- Africa Highway Corridor; and the 122 km section is the third phase of the Isiolo-Moyale road corridor being upgraded to bitumen standards by the government with the support of the African Development Bank (ADB).

Trade between Kenya and Ethiopia will also receive a boost due the construction of a One-Stop Border Post and weighbridge at Moyale.