DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania – The Seventh Ordinary Meeting on the Inter-state Council of Ministers (ICM) of the Central Corridor Transit Transportation Facilitation Agency (CCTTFA) has resolved to address issues on requiring policy, regulatory decisions, it has been revealed.
The issues involved include visa requirements, harmonization of road user charges, transit transport facilitation, Tanzania Port Authority in Kigali, the Democratic Republic of Congo and in Bujumbura, among others.
The Seventh Ordinary Meeting concluded its meeting in Dar es Salaam last week and the ministers resolved to commit themselves to follow up on the CCTTFA Executive Board recommendations to address those key issues.
The ICM is composed of Ministers of Transport from Partner States (Tanzania, Uganda, Congo DR, Rwanda and Burundi), meets once a year while the Board of Directors (Executive Board) is composed of Permanent Secretaries from the Ministries of Transport and one Private Sector representative from all partner States.
The meeting was opened, chaired and closed by Prof. Makame Mbarawa, Tanzania’s Minister of Works, Transport and Communications at Kunduchi Beach Resort Hotel.
The meeting was also attended by Eng. Jean Bosco Ntuzwenimana, the Minister of Transport, Public works & Equipment (Burundi), Justin Kalumba Mwana-Ngongo, Minister of Transport and Ways of Communication (Congo DRC), Bagiire Aggrey Henry, Minister of State for Transport and Works (Uganda). Minister of Infrastructure of Republic of Rwanda was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Mr. Christian Rwakunda.
According to the Joint Communiqué released and read by Capt. Dieudone Dukundane, CCTTFA Executive Secretary, at the end of the meeting, the Council of Ministers approved various resolutions of the CCTTFA Executive Board of Directors.
The Council appointed Sayiba Tambwe Patient as the Chief Operating Officer of the CCTTFA, a new position, effective from September 2016.
The Council commended efforts undertaken by member states to spearhead transport infrastructure and services along the Central Corridor, including Standard Gauge Railway project connecting the United Republic of Tanzania with all CC member states.
It directed CCTTFA to fast track and finalizes consultations with all Central Corridor (CC) Countries on matter to be transacted during the next Presidential Round table.
The ICM was preceded by a two days meeting of the 11th Executive Board of Directors of the CCTTFA whereby Tanzania assumed chairmanship of the Board from Rwanda.
Three cluster technical meetings on ICT, Aviation and Railways were held where by discussions centered on harmonization of each of the three sectors among member states.
Tanzania needs to spend about $14.2 billion to construct a new rail network in the next five years financed with commercial loans.
The projects include constructing a 2,561-km standard gauge railway connecting the port at the commercial capital of Dar es Salaam to Tanzania’s landlocked neighbours, Rwanda and Burundi at a cost of $7.6 billion.
Analysts say the country through the Central Corridor projects stands to boost its economy by capitalising on its long coastline. The railway line is going to unlock the potential in fast growing economies of the land-locked nations.
Two additional lines, to be built at a combined cost of $6.6 billion, would connect Dar es Salaam to the coal, iron ore and soda ash mining areas in Liganga and Mchuchuma in Njombe Region, as well as Manyara Region.
Officials say the projects would be financed by commercial loans from a consortium of banks under a 20-year repayment period.
The government has appointed Rothschild to help secure the financing.
EAC member states have a combined gross domestic product (GDP) of  close to $130 billion
Source: East African Business Week

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