African transport infrastructure 'to improve under new scheme'

15 November 2010

A number of African countries are to set up a project that will improve transport infrastructure in the continent and reduce the cost of doing business.

Under the secretariat of the Sub-Saharan Africa Transport Policy Programme framework, which comprises 35 countries and eight regional economic communities, a roads fund will be created, the East African reports.

The maintenance work will be carried out through a series of self-financing measures, including fuel levies, driving permit fees and weigh bridge penalties.

Because of the poor quality of the streets, the news provider noted motorists were only spending 21 per cent of their time actually driving.

Ever since the 1970s, the World Bank has backed enhancing the transport infrastructure in Africa as a means of reducing the overall cost of transferring goods.

Paul Runge, managing director of Africa Project Access, recently told Engineering News intra-Africa trade and development will only flourish if motorways, ports and airports are enhanced.
 

Category: Transport