The East African Community Heads of State have launched the 42.4KM Bypass that will link northern Tanzania to the Kenyan port city of Mombasa.
The multinational Arusha-Holili -Taveta-Voi Bypass is a project constructed to decongest the traffic and promotes intra-regional trade.
The East African Community Chairperson Uhuru Kenyatta and his host, Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan, launched the road on Friday.
President Kenyatta says infrastructure development is second to peace and security the region embarks on to overcome poverty.
“When countries come together and pool resources, they can overcome all barriers to development,” Kenyatta said
Tanzania President Suluhu Hassan said the multinational road is among the key priorities to boost the tourism industry and promotes effective trade between the East African nations.
She callled the people living near the vital infrastructure projects to use the emerging opportunities to uplift themselves and spur economic growth.
The African Development Bank (AfDB) Director announced that it had funded the process with 217 million US dollars.
Ms. Nnenna Lily Nwabufo, AfDB Director General for East Africa, says 112 million US dollars for Tanzania and $ 105 million to Kenya.
She added that the two governments also contributed to the project but didn’t disclose the amount.
The project was launched during the weekend at the EAC head of states’ Summit in Tanzania.
Presidential Affairs Minister Dr. Barnaba Marial Benjamin represented South Sudan during the summit.