I.A.M - Magazine - Page 64
This project’s
objective is bold
and urgent…to
enhance transport
connectivity along
the Central Corridor,
which will enable
faster, safer, and
more cost-effective
movement of
goods and people.
powerful leap toward economic modernization. The project
encompasses seven components—from engineering and
construction to institutional support and regional coordination—all underpinned by a shared vision of seamless
connectivity and inclusive development.
Profound Impact
The project’s objective is bold and urgent: to enhance
transport connectivity along the Central Corridor, enabling
faster, safer, and more cost-effective movement of goods
and people. This high-capacity railway will replace slow,
inefficient road transport with modern, climate-smart
logistics, reducing freight costs, travel time, and emissions
while expanding access to domestic, regional, and international markets.
The impact will be profound. For Burundi, a landlocked
country with high trade costs and limited logistics capacity,
the SGR is a gateway to opportunity. The rail line to Musongati will enable large-scale export of nickel and other
minerals, positioning Burundi as a competitive player in
global supply chains. Farmers will gain access to larger
markets, input suppliers, and regional buyers, while
passengers will benefit from safe, reliable, and affordable
travel.
For Tanzania, the SGR cements the country’s role as a
regional trade and transit hub, deepening its commercial
and strategic ties across the Great Lakes region.
Beyond physical infrastructure, the project is also building
institutional bridges. A Joint Project Coordination Team is
strengthening cross-country collaboration, while technical
assistance, strategic studies, and stakeholder sensitization
are helping to ensure the project’s sustainability, inclusivity,
and regional ownership.
Integration In Action
Training and capacity-building initiatives are creating local
expertise to operate and maintain the railway, securing its
long-term value.
This is integration in action: a collaborative, multi-phase
investment that links landlocked economies to global
ports, fuels intra-African trade, and turns geographic
disadvantage into economic advantage. The immediate
beneficiaries—miners, farmers, traders, and transport
operators—will experience tangible benefits through cost
savings, expanded markets, and new job opportunities.
But the broader impact reaches even further: a more
connected and competitive Africa, where borders are no
longer barriers but bridges to shared prosperity.
As the rails are laid and the engines begin to roll, the Tanzania–Burundi SGR is becoming a symbol of a continent on
the move, toward integration, inclusion, and a future driven
by partnership and purpose.
