VISITING Ugandan Minister for Works, Engineer Monica Ntege, has commended Tanzania for its mega project to put up Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) line, saying upon its completion the railway line will play a key role in linking Dar es Salaam Port and the landlocked countries.
The minister gave the praise here on Wednesday evening after meeting with Dodoma Regional Commissioner (RC) Dr Binilith Mahenge, pointing out the SGR would also enhance relations between Tanzania and her country.
“We will meet with our business community to inform it on great opportunities which they can tap from the railway line largely in transporting their consignments,” said the Minister who is on official tour in the country’s capital city.
SGR is set to facilitate Central Corridor which is the transport and trading route in East and Central Africa. Its end point is the country’s port city of Dar es Salaam, where it connects to the rest of the world vie shipping.
On his part, Dodoma RC, informed the Ugandan Minister that being at the heart of the country, Dodoma stands to serve a good number of neighbouring countries including Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Dr Mahenge pointed out other ongoing projects in Dodoma as construction of the Msalato
International Airport whose project is funded by African Development Bank and Inland Port which will be built by Tanzania Ports Authority (TPA). “Upon completion of the projects, our capacity to serve neighbouring countries will tremendously go up,” said the RC.
Feasibility and design study for Msalato International Airport is complete under support of Arab Bank for Africa Development.
The country’s fifth international airport will complement the Dodoma Airport operations.