World Bank approves $81 million credit to Rwanda to improve road infrastructure

Jun 08, 2017: The Rwandan government and the World Bank signed a financing agreement worth $81 million for the reconstruction of the 66.5-km road network in Rwanda. The credit provided under International Development Association (IDA) will give impetus to Rwanda's transport sector under the Lake Victoria Transport Project (LVTP).

The project, which is the first in a series of three in Rwanda, aims to to improve the efficient and safe movement of goods and people along the Rwanda-Tanzania border crossing to the Rwanda-Burundi border crossing.

According to the Rwandan minister of finance and economic planning, Claver Gatete, the poor state of roads has forced the people staying in the region to be cut off from the rest of the country, especially during the rains. And those living along the road corridor from Kibugabuga to Gasoro are expected to benefit from the project implementation.

World Bank's task team leader of LVTP, Muhammad Zulfiqar Ahmed expects LVTP to provide better access to rural communities living alongside the road corridor that rely almost exclusively on agriculture and livestock for their subsistence.

He said the project will stimulate new jobs and income earning opportunities to the people in Ngoma, Bugesera and Nyanza districts through upgrading and maintenance works as well as downstream development activities generated along the corridor as a result of the improved access.

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