BY WARYOBA YANKAMI
18th December 2013
Under the agreement, the Tanzania Railway Limited (TRL) is expected to update and improve its operations countrywide.
Addressing reporters shortly after the signing ceremony in Dar es Salaam yesterday, Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Transport Monica Mwamunyange said the investment will focus on locomotive and wagons.
It is among the various efforts being made to revive the country’s railway sector.
She said the agreement guarantees improvements of locomotives and wagons to facilitate railway operations countrywide.
The deputy permanent secretary said the ministry had launched numerous discussions with Canadian manufacturers’ firms and suppliers to support the railway industry in the country.
“The Canadian government has expressed commitment to continue supporting the country (Tanzania) in the transformation of the railway transport system,” she said, adding: “Canada’s support in the railway sector includes direct assistance to infrastructures and services provision.”
Mwamunyange said rehabilitation of the central railway line from Dar es Salaam to Tabora is underway.
However, she affirmed that the rehabilitation of the railway infrastructures aims at increasing speed and capacity so that new locomotives and wagons can be operated effectively and efficiently.
Meanwhile, the Canadian High Commissioner Alexandre Levesque said Canada support will include maintenance and training services and refurbishment of Tanzania’s railway systems.
“The two countries have been cooperating in the railway sector since 1972 during which the government of Canada provided 20 locomotives to the Tanzanian government,” he said.
Levesque assured Tanzania of Canada’s cooperation in building prosperity and improved railway system.
He added that Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (FIPA) between Canada and Tanzania which is in operation will help investors from the two countries to work together.
He further said that the MoU will make it easier for Tanzania to access Canadian railway equipments, services and experts.
Alexandre noted that the CCC has been helping governments of different countries in the world to access Canada’s industrial base for projects of any size. CCC connects government buyers with its experts through the negotiation and execution of government-to-government contracts.
According to him, CCC has more than 60 years of working experience in transportation, energy, water treatment, health, education and other social infrastructures.
Mid this year workers at the state-run transport facility –TRL threatened to down tools over multiple demands including low pay, poor workers’ welfare, corruption and theft conducted by managers and poor handling of the company.
SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN
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