Improving transportation connectivity between East and Central Africa holds the key to overall development of the region, paving the way for splendid opportunities for business and trade.

Rural and landlocked countries connectivity is particularly important for Africa as agriculture is a very important economy activity while perishable products often suffered from delays and post-harvest losses in remote areas. Effective intermodal solutions are the key to increasing cargo throughput of bulky goods especially the rich mining products from the regions.

The World Bank estimates that the cost of moving goods in Africa is, on average, two or three times higher than in developed countries so improving transport is particularly a pressing issue. Across the continent improved infrastructure of all sorts may increase economic growth by 2% a year. In Kenya, the Government expects the construction of new railway from port in Mombasa to the capital, Nairobi, will boost economic growth by 1.5% annually, as it will reduce the costs of moving freight by 60%.

Major challenges facing the land transport system in the regions include destroyed roads, ageing infrastructure, poor track condition and maintenance, low availability and reliability of rolling stock, absence of private investment in infrastructure, incompatible gauge between rails and low axle load.

The recent discovery of huge oil and gas reserves and the ongoing efforts to increase intra-regional trade have attracted the attention of private investors, in light of a higher demand for efficient and sustainable transport systems. The continent’s road network has grown by an average of 7,500km a year over the past decade, a sharp increase from previous decades. More transport infrastructure investments are needed to leverage on the economic potential of the region.

The East & Central Africa Roads & Rail Infrastructure Summit, now into its sixth year, is an important and relevant platform to get the latest update on transport & investment policies, priority projects, procurement opportunities, project partnership and investment in the emerging roads and rail transport infrastructure sector of East & Central Africa.