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Belgium to support regional railway line
2007-02-24 07:39:36
By Guardian Reporter, Brussels
Belgium has agreed to support the construction of a railway line set to link Tanzania, Burundi, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The move follows a request by President Jakaya Kikwete during discussions here with Belgian Deputy Prime Minister Didier Reynders.
President Kikwete told Reynders, who doubles as his country’s Finance minister, that the African Development Bank had agreed to do a feasibility study on the project.
The construction of the railway line was of crucial importance to the four countries particularly now that Rwanda, Burundi and the DRC are no longer war zones, the President stated.
`Currently, the Great Lakes Region is peaceful. We are now putting emphasis on opening up economic relations and trade among the countries. This railway line will be one of the major facilities to speed up our economic development for our countries and our people,` he added.
President Kikwete explained that the ministers responsible for the development of transport and infrastructure in the four countries are expected to meet in Tanzania next month to discuss the modalities of implementing the project.
For his part, Reynders said his government had agreed to contribute to the construction of the railway line but it would appreciate seeing more development partners supporting the scheme.
Other initiatives that Belgium has agreed to support include the removal of mud from the Tanzanian side of Lake Tanganyika, just as it has been doing in Burundi and the DRC.
The accumulation of mud is believed to have contributed to falling water levels in the world’s deepest lake.
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