China is investing billions of dollars on a huge modern rail network that will eventually traverse the length and breadth of Africa.
This is all part of Beijing’s long-term vision to drive growth and development in the continent’s latent economies.
Through the Belt and Road initiative, a Chinese-led economic strategy linking some of the world’s developing markets, China is helping to modernize Africa’s rail network, using it as platform for economic growth and development.
In the landlocked Ethiopia, a 700-kilometer railway line linking its capital Addis Ababa to Djibouti on Africa’s east coast has already been completed.
In neighbouring Kenya, a 500-kilometer standard gauge rail project which will connect the port city of Mombasa to its capital Nairobi is set to be completed next month.
There are also plans to construct more rails in Uganda, Tanzania and Rwanda.
This will not only boost the efficiency of cargo transportation across Africa, but also help ease public transportation in the continent.
Experts have lauded the move, saying a reliable intra-continental rail network will bring real economic benefits to the whole of Africa.
It is expected that by 2020 Africa will begin to see the full potential of these rail networks.
They are expected to open up markets and provide more efficient access for African goods, all thanks to the strong ties the continent has forged with China.
