1.
Singapore: East & Central Africa’s transportation authorities
and their industry partners will be gathering in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania on June
21-22 for the 3rd East & Central Africa Roads & Rail
Infrastructure Summit 2012. At the top
of the agenda will be the discussion on latest development opportunities across
this rapidly developing region.
2. As a region, East Africa
comprises about 26% of Africa’s population and 16% of Africa’s combined GDP in
2009 current prices. Regional GDP growth was aided by rising oil output in
Sudan, mineral exports in Ethiopia and Tanzania, robust trade output from Kenya
and economic reforms in Rwanda. Growth is expected to remain strong with
foreign investments in oil and mineral exploration in Sudan, Uganda and
Ethiopia, along with a pipeline of large infrastructure projects in the
Central, Northern, North-South Corridors.
3. Efficient transportation
corridors are keys to economic development, and thus rehabilitation projects
and new infrastructure investments are needed to keep the region prospering.
This 3rd Summit addresses the weak transport infrastructure in East &
Central Africa and focuses on the key factors in ensuring a functioning road
network, including road planning, design, operation and optimization of rail
assets, and regional connectivity. The Summit will discuss the latest
investment projects from Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, Zambia, Kenya, Uganda, and
other countries in region.
4.
The two-day Summit will be officiated by Hon Omari Nundu, Minister, Ministry of Transport, Tanzania.
5.
This year’s distinguished panel of speakers includes representatives
from regional government authorities and industry stakeholders: Akashambatwa
Lewanika, CEO, Tanzania Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA); Philip Wambugu, Director of Infrastructure, East African Community (EAC); Meshack
Kidenda, Director General, Kenya National Highway Authority; Capt
Dukundane Dieudonne, Director General,
Burundi Maritime, Port and Railways
Authority; Sipho Khumalo, CEO, Cross Border Road Transport Agency (CBRTA),
South Africa; Nelson
Nyangu, Director of Planning, Ministry
of Communications and Transport (MCT), Zambia; Atama Gabriel Richard, Principal Infrastructure Officer, Ministry
of East African Community Affairs, Uganda; Dr Twagira Elias Mathaniya, Director General, Rwanda Transport
Development Agency, Rwanda; Eng Dr Michael M Odongo, Executive Director, Uganda Road Fund; among several others.
6.
Industry representatives that will be sharing the 2012 Roads & Rail
platform include: Nduva Muli, Managing
Director, Kenya Railways Corporation;
Paul Runge, Managing Director, Africa Project Access, South Africa;
Klaus Findt, Partner, Chief Operating Officer, Global
Infrastructure – Africa, KPMG Services, South Africa; Peter Copley
Pr Eng, Ops Evaluation Specialist, Development
Bank of South Africa (DBSA), South Africa; Martin Fleetwood, Secretary, Rail Working Group, United
Kingdom; among several others.
7.
The Summit is endorsed by the Ministry
of Transport (MoT), Tanzania and the Tanzania
Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA). Also supporting the Event are the Tanzania Truck Owners Association (TATOA)
and the Rail Working Group (RWG).
8. The CEO of the conference organizing company, Magenta Global Pte Ltd, Singapore, Ms
Maggie Tan, said: “This is the
premier Summit to tackle the road and rail infrastructure challenges facing
East & Central Africa. The
Summit will facilitate the exchange of fresh information,
present new
projects and engage industry stakeholders on viable project models for
sustainable development of the transport infrastructure in East & Central
Africa.” Ms Tan encouraged all companies and organizations to contribute to the development of this sector by
being part of this key event.
9. The event will be held at the Serena Hotel in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
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