Japan: Exchange of Notes for Grant Aid for the United Republic of Tanzania (the Project for Widening of the New Bagamoyo Road [Detailed Design])

The Government of Japan has decided to extend grant aid (the Project for Widening of the New Bagamoyo Road [Detailed Design]) totaling 60 million JPY to the United Republic of Tanzania. Notes to this effect were exchanged on February 26 (Fri) (local time: same day) in Dar es Salaam between Mr. Hiroshi Nakagawa, Ambassador of Japan to Tanzania, and Mr. Ramadhani M. Khijjah, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs of Tanzania.

The New Bagamoyo Road constitutes the road traffic network of Dar es Salaam, the largest city in Tanzania, and is considered to be a major trunk road of the country. However, the New Bagamoyo Road is the only major trunk road within Dar es Salaam that has only two lanes, and traffic congestion grows more serious every year. As a result, it has become an impediment to economic activities in the region of Dar es Salaam.

The goal of this project is the broadening and improvement of bridges and approximately 12.9 kilometers of the New Bagamoyo Road that stretches from the center of Dar es Salaam (the Mwenge intersection) to the northern suburbs (Tegeta). It is expected that this project will ensure smooth traffic along the New Bagamoyo Road and contribute to the vitalization of economic and social activities in the Dar es Salaam region.

This grant aid is a part of Japan’s commitment to Africa announced at the Fourth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD IV) held in May 2008 to strengthen cooperation towards efforts in the field of infrastructure.

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The United Republic of Tanzania is located on the eastern coast of Africa. It covers a land area of 945,000 square kilometers and has a population of approximately 42.48 million people (World Bank, 2008). Tanzania’s Gross National Income (GNI) per capita is 440 USD (World Bank, 2008).

Source: Japan – Ministry of Foreign Affairs