Economic potential and growth opportunities of the EAC region have been hindered by the poor state of hard and soft infrastructure across its five member states. Given the urgent need to build and rehabilitate transportation systems, upgrade road networks and the establishment of One Stop Border Posts (OSBPs), expansion of port capacities and investing in power generation and redistribution; the region’s prosperity is contingent on its ability to attract private sector investment to further reach its ambitious objectives.
Prof. Mosad Elmissiry, advisor to the CEO of NEPAD Agency on Energy, succinctly describes the PIDA as a strategic framework of priority projects for the development of regional and continental infrastructure on the continent. The overall goal of PIDA is to promote socio-economic development and poverty reduction in Africa through improved access to integrated regional and continental infrastructure networks and services.
Source: Brazil Africa Institute
A conference panel with key PIDA stakeholders providing insights on their areas of expertise. NEPAD Transport Infrastructure Expert, Dr John Tambi, provides an overview of the progress made to date; highlighting the programme’s institutional architecture for infrastructure development and the significance of project ownership. AUC Infrastructure & Transport representative, Dr Maurice Niatty- Mouamba, refers to the constraints impeding PIDA implementation, emphasising capacity building of stakeholders as a key requirement. AfDB Chief Infrastructure & PPP Specialist, Mr Mtchera Chirwa shares a perspective on national priorities to enable PIDA’s success.
Source: Creamer Media
The success of PIDA is in driving the development of leading quality infrastructure as a means to propel economic growth. The infrastructure we see today across the continent will have undergone a phenomenal transformation by the year 2040, through the application of turnkey projects which will create efficiencies and advance economies. Innovations in the energy, trans-boundary water resources, transport and Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) services will collectively contribute to creating solutions which increase economic density across the continent.
The African continent is taking bold action to capitalise on its momentum in spearheading economic progress in an attempt to realise its enormous potential. PIDA brings together investments and capacity building for infrastructure projects across four key sectors with ground-breaking benefits for millions of beneficiaries. The programme is a road-map to interconnect, integrate and transform the African continent and with support from national governments, the AUC, private partners and institutions such as the AfDB; it will lead the required action to safeguard sustainable development.
The continent boasts steady, yet varied economic development over time and in order to further improve, regional development needs to take place. Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is supporting national governments by implementing projects in line with African initiatives toward cross-border regional infrastructure development. The projects cut across Energy, Transportation, Information and Communications Technology (ICT) services and Trans Boundary Water Resources in the various RECs, creating a range of inclusive and dynamic socio- economic benefits.
Source: JICAChannel02
The African Development Bank recently launched a 1,068-kilometre high-voltage electricity highway to be built between Kenya and Ethiopia.
Source: CNBCAfrica
