Global Gateway: New Road and Bridge Open Up Tanzania's Southern Corridor

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07.08.2024 Press and information team of the Delegation to TANZANIA

Tanzania inaugurated the Kidatu-Ifakara road and Great Ruaha Bridge in the Morogoro Region. Funded by the EU, UKAID, and USAID, the project aims to boost economic growth and improve connectivity. It will enhance transportation and market access for farmers and will promote sustainable development. This effort mirrors the EU's "Global Gateway Strategy".

© Ministry of Works

On Sunday, August 4^th, Tanzania celebrated the inauguration of the Kidatu-Ifakara road and the Great Ruaha Bridge in Morogoro Region in eastern Tanzania. The event was graced by Tanzania's President Samia Suluhu Hassan, ministers and senior government officials, European Union (EU) Ambassador to Tanzania Christine Grau, and representatives from the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and the UK High Commission in Tanzania.

This milestone marks the culmination of a significant infrastructure project aimed at boosting economic growth and improving the lives of Tanzanians in Morogoro and surrounding regions.

Funded through a tripartite partnership between the EU, the UKAID, and USAID, the project is expected to be transformative for the region. The previously dilapidated road, often impassable during the rainy season, has been transformed into a vital transport corridor. The new bridge over the Great Ruaha River, stretching 133 meters, is a critical link that will facilitate easier movement of people and goods, enhancing connectivity between the regions of Morogoro, Njombe, and Ruvuma.

The improved infrastructure is anticipated to unlock the economic potential of the region, known for its agricultural productivity. The Kidatu-Ifakara road is crucial for the movement of agricultural produce, especially from the fertile Kilombero Valley, known for its rice and sugarcane production. With better market access, farmers can now transport their produce to urban centers more efficiently, leading to increased incomes and improved livelihoods.

Ambassador Grau emphasized the project's potential to stimulate agricultural development and reduce poverty.

"The completion of this road and the Ruaha bridge will be crucial to stimulate sustainable agricultural development - and the whole agricultural value chain - in this Southern Tanzania corridor," she stated.

The project is part of the EU's broader commitment to Tanzania's development. The bloc has invested heavily in the country's transport sector, recognizing its crucial role in regional integration and economic growth. Under the "Global Gateway Strategy," the EU aims to further increase its investments in Africa, including projects in Tanzania such as expanding public transport in Dar es Salaam, upgrading the Port of Dar es Salaam, and improving the water supply in Mwanza.