DEPUTY Prime Minister Doto Biteko has underlined the importance for African governments to invest heavily in power, transport and communication infrastructure to have its 2063 agenda 2063 realised.
The deputy PM said Tanzania is determined and strategically positioned to connect Africa to various infrastructure to spur development and economic growth.
Officiating at the four-day AU Specialised Technical Committee on Transport, Transcontinental and Interregional Infrastructure and Energy Meeting in Zanzibar’ which ended on Friday, the deputy Prime Minister asked individual countries to show commitment in realising the dream.
“We need to work hard in searching for financial resources to build our infrastructure because almost all our social and economic sources of growth such as tourism, seaports, airports and agriculture, health and education, require better roads, transport systems and reliable energy,” Dr Biteko said.
Dr Biteko, who officiated at the meeting on behalf of President Hussein Ali Mwinyi, who is on official visit to Cuba, said Tanzania under President Dr Samia Suluhu and Dr Mwinyi has been doing well in infrastructure development, including connecting the continent to infrastructure that spur development.
Giving an example, Dr Biteko said some neighbouring countries have been connected, or will soon be connected to the national grid, especially after the completion of Julius Nyerere Hydropower project. He mentioned the countries that will be connected to power are Malawi, Kenya, Burundi and Uganda.
The deputy PM also informed ministers and senior officers from African countries that the 1,443-km crude oil pipeline from Kabaale – Hoima in Uganda to Tanga Port is also one of the projects that connect Africa.
“President Samia has also been doing well in air transportation. We have twelve aircraft that serve in various routes Africa,” Dr Biteko said he conveyed greetings from Dr Samia and Mwinyi to the ministers and senior officials.
Dr Biteko joined other delegates to observe a one-minute silence to remember victims of disasters in Libya and Morocco.
He said that if all AU members show commitment, the Programme for Infrastructure Development for Africa (PIDA) in the next 10-years will be successful, insisting on sustainable funding to enable achieve the goal.
Speaking on behalf of the African Development Bank (AfDB), the Bank’s Director for Infrastructure and Urban Development Mr Mike Salawou, said the financial institution has been funding many projects which fall under PIDA in Africa.
AU Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy Dr Amani Abou-Zeid said despite the achievements in implementation of PIDA, there are challenges that must be addressed including lack of data and delayed projects.
“We must show seriousness in having data on all projects we undertake. The data must be updated frequently, because even in soliciting funds, reliable information to donors and funders is important,” the Commissioner said.
About 350 delegates from 49 African countries met here for the 4th ordinary session of the African Union Specialised Technical Committee on Transport, Transcontinental and Interregional Infrastructure, and Energy (STC-TTIIE).
Zanzibar Minister of Infrastructure, Communications, and Transport Dr Khalid Salum Mohamed said at a press conference that the meeting started on Tuesday (September 12) under the theme “Accelerating Infrastructure to Deliver on Agenda 2063 Aspirations.”
The meeting was organised in two sessions starting with the Experts Session from 12th to 13th, followed by the Ministerial Session .
He said the overall objective was to evaluate the implementation of the various activities and programmes in the infrastructure and energy sectors in PIDA, to consider prevailing global and continental issues touching on infrastructure and energy, and to agree on specific interventions as the way forward.
Participants included AU Member States ministers and experts responsible for transport and energy, Regional Economic Communities (RECs), continental organisations, African Union Commission (AUC), African Union Development Agency- New Partnership for Africa’s Development (AUDA-NEPA), AfDB, United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), Specialised Agencies and institutions, and other invited partner organisations.
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