New road set to encourage trade in east Africa

Date: 22/11/2011

A deal has been signed to build a new road linking Addis Ababa, Nairobi and Mombasa.

It is hoped the $743 million (£475 million) project will improve trade between Kenya and Ethiopia, the East African reports.

The two countries will be connected to other nations in eastern and southern Africa as part of the Trans-African Highway Corridor and it is thought the project will be completed in the next three years.

While the stretch of road from Hawassa to Ageremariam in Ethiopia is around 197km long, the Kenya section from Turbi to Moyale is 112km.

The initiative will also allow for greater import and export of goods.

Ethiopian Minister of Transport Diriba Kuma said: "The need to achieve regional economic integration through strengthening our individual economies in various forms of co-operation is critical to address global economic challenges facing us today."

The Trans-African Highway consists of nine main corridors linking many of the continent's nations with the purpose of providing more direct transportation routes between their capital cities.

Posted by Nick Anderson