The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) bloc hosted its 13th Meeting of Ministers for Infrastructure, Transport, ICT, and Energy, in Kigali on Thursday, September 14.

The key infrastructure programmes that took center stage during the meeting include the regional infrastructure financing facility project, the tripartite transport and transit facilitation programme, the navigation line between Lake Victoria and the Mediterranean Sea project, the support to air transport sector development programme, and the enhancement of governance and enabling environment in the ICT sector.

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Mohamed Kadah, the COMESA Assistant Secretary-General, emphasized the pivotal role of infrastructure.

Kadah said: "Infrastructure is pivotal for regional integration, and it&039;s a top priority. Africa faces substantial challenges in this regard, particularly with road connections and quality. We're actively working to enhance road infrastructure with member states.”

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"Beyond roads, we're focusing on railway networks, river transport, and maritime transport, all crucial for regional integration. One promising project in the pipeline aims to connect Lake Victoria to the Mediterranean Sea, which could be a game changer. Additionally, maritime transport is vital for trade, especially for island and coastal states. Our efforts span various modes of transportation, we’re committed to bridging Africa's infrastructure gap,” Kadah said.

Eng. Patricie Uwase, Rwanda’s Minister of State in the Ministry of Infrastructure, echoed the urgency of expediting infrastructure projects, given the slow progress in the region.

She said: "As this marks the 13th COMESA ministerial meeting on infrastructure, covering transportation, energy, and ICT initiatives, it's evident that speed remains a primary challenge. While we possess the necessary ideals and policy documentation, the urgency to accelerate infrastructure projects has become paramount, especially in the wake of the recent Covid-19 pandemic.

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"Our key obstacles include slow progress and the need to harness existing political will among multiple partners. Although numerous countries have endorsed policies like the Single African Air Travel Market (SATM) to facilitate affordable continental air travel, the reality remains that air travel in Africa is often prohibitively expensive and challenging. This forum serves as an opportunity for ministers and policymakers to revisit these issues, identify hold-ups, and expedite the much-needed reforms in the sector,” she said.

Ministers recommendations

The ministers' meeting resulted in various recommendations, including the importance of robust planning, permits, and public-private partnerships to bridge Africa's infrastructure gap.

As noted, COMESA remains committed to promoting investments in rail, roads, energy, and ICT to enhance regional connectivity.

Improving road infrastructure, border management, and corridor development are pivotal steps to reduce trade costs and enhance connectivity. Member states are actively revitalizing railways with standard gauge projects to boost economic growth and regional integration.

The organization also recognizes the untapped potential of inland waterways in the region and is pursuing initiatives like the Lake Victoria-Mediterranean Sea route.

Air connectivity plays a crucial role in enhancing productivity and tourism. The bloc backs the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) and regional air transport integration. It is also driving power interconnection projects among member states to optimize energy resources, promote regional trade, and improve energy access and reliability.

To attract private infrastructure finance, COMESA, an inter-governmental organization comprising 21 African countries dedicated to fostering regional economic integration through trade and investment, is working on policy and regulatory harmonization, with a focus on off-grid energy initiatives and ICT development.

Bridging the digital divide and ensuring secure and affordable ICT access are also top priorities for the organization.