Leveraging Infrastructure for Economic Development and Regional Integration - Gabon to Launch Largest AfDB Road Project

4 August 2009
Content from a Premium Partner
African Development Bank (Abidjan)
press release

Tunis, August 3 2009 - The first Phase of a major road project in Gabon, the largest ever financed by the African Development Bank (AfDB) Group in the transport sector in a Regional Member Country, will be launched on 4 and 7 August 2009, at ceremonies to be chaired by the Interim President, Mrs. Rose Francine Rogombe.

This strategic road project will cover 24% of the Gabonese territory, at a total cost de186 billion CFAF, of which 90% (165 billion CFAF) will be mobilized by the AfDB.

Most of the loan resources will be deployed in the reconstruction and tarring the Ndende-Lebamba, the Leyou-Lastoursville and the Fougamou-Mouila trunk roads covering over 250 kilometres.

Located on a NEPAD (New Partnership for Africa's Development) corridor linking Yaounde, Libreville and Brazzaville, the road is part of the Tripoli-Windhoek trans-African highway, and therefore constitutes a backbone of the sub-region's economic integration.

The project will also enhance to Gabon's internal integration by linking up all the provincial headquarters by tarred and durable roads, thereby strengthening national unity. By Opening up and providing reliable access to all the provinces, the road project will enhance economic growth and improve living conditions of rural dwellers. It will facilitate the supply of agricultural inputs and manufactured goods. It will also promote the development of tourism, industry, trade in food crops and livestock. It will significantly improve access to basic social and health services as well as education.

The project's key outputs will include:

A 25% increase in of length of paved roads in Gabon (the current length of paved roads in Gabon is 1060 km);

A 30% rise in trade between the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) countries by 2015;

A 30% increase in access to social, educational and health facilities to the people by 2012.

The launching will take place in two stages: Tuesday, August 4, for the Ndende-Lebamba an Fougamou-Mouila trunk; and Friday, August 7, for the Leyou-Lastoursville axis.

Interim President Rogombe will be accompanied at the ceremonies by Vice-President. Didjob Divungi Di Ndinge, Prime Minister Paul Mba Biyoghe; Public Works, Infrastructure and the Construction Minister, Flavien Nzengui Nzoundou; and a delegation representing AfDB President Donald Kaberuka led by the Central Africa Regional Director, Mohamed Gharbi..

* 1 UA Units of Account) = 1.58223 US$ = 720.385 FCFA on 31/07/2009

Contacts

Lotfi Madani

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