Rwanda is looking for 1.3 billion U.S. dollars to fund the construction of the proposed Isaka-Kigali standard gauge railway that links Rwanda and Tanzania, a senior Rwandan official said Tuesday.
The figure is higher than 1.2 billion dollars revealed during the launch of the 400 km railway line in January.
“The study for Isaka-Kigali SGR is completed,” said Jean de Dieu Uwihanganye, Minister of State in charge of Transport, while speaking at a local radio station talk show.
“Rwanda is looking for a staggering around 1.3 billion U.S. dollars to finance its portion with the aim of reducing logistics costs, boosting trade and easing the movement of people between Tanzania and Rwanda.”
Initial studies had shown that the project that will connect landlocked Rwanda to Dar es Salaam is estimated to cost $2.5 billion.
