Press Tour of Japan's Development Cooperation (Transportation) (October 5, 2017)
2017/10/11
On October 5, the Embassy of Japan in Rwanda held a press tour of Japan’s development cooperation in the transport sector in order to inspect the progress of Japan’s loan project “Rusumo-Kayonza Road Improvement Project.” Nine Rwandan journalists (*) from the main newspapers, television, radio as well as online news media joined Ambassador Miyashita in this press tour. Jean de Dieu Uwihanganye, Minister of State in charge of Transport, attended a briefing session and expressed his gratitude for Japan’s assistance in the transport sector in his remarks.
The route between Rusumo and Kayonza constitutes part of the “Central Corridor,” a crucial international road which connects Rwanda to the port of Dar es Salaam in Tanzania. After the completion of the “Rusumo International Bridge“ and the “Rusumo One Stop Border Post“ facilities in December 2014, which were financed by Japan’s grant, the traffic volume to Rwanda via the Central Corridor has been on the increase, and it is imperative to rehabilitate the road, especially to widen it to accommodate more traffic.
The route between Rusumo and Kayonza constitutes part of the “Central Corridor,” a crucial international road which connects Rwanda to the port of Dar es Salaam in Tanzania. After the completion of the “Rusumo International Bridge“ and the “Rusumo One Stop Border Post“ facilities in December 2014, which were financed by Japan’s grant, the traffic volume to Rwanda via the Central Corridor has been on the increase, and it is imperative to rehabilitate the road, especially to widen it to accommodate more traffic.
The journalists visited project sites where the road is being widened, as well as a crusher plant which is producing cements for tarmacking. The project is expected to reduce transport cost and promote the movement of people and goods along the Central Corridor region, when this rehabilitation work is completed at the end of 2019. Japan will further continue to support Rwanda’s transport sector as economic infrastructure development is one of Japan’s ODA priority areas in Rwanda.
(*)The journalists from the following media participated in the press tour: The New Times, IMVAHO Nshya, Rwanda TV, Radio Rwanda, City Radio, KT Radio, Contact FM, IGIHE, Kigali Today and UMUSEKE
(*)The journalists from the following media participated in the press tour: The New Times, IMVAHO Nshya, Rwanda TV, Radio Rwanda, City Radio, KT Radio, Contact FM, IGIHE, Kigali Today and UMUSEKE