Past events (May. 22)
>>Inauguration ceremony of the road between Iringa and Dodoma
On 22nd May 2013, the Tanzanian government held an inauguration ceremony for the 260km road between Iringa and Dodoma which was built by means of a Japanese Yen Loan under "The Road Sector Support Project".
The exchange of notes on the loan was made on 25th March 2010 in Tokyo, signed by the previous Ambassador of Japan to Tanzania, H.E. Mr. Hiroshi Nakagawa, and the previous Minister of Agriculture, Food Security and Cooperatives, Hon. Mr. Stephen Wassira, in the presence of the then Vice Minister of Japan, Mr. Tetsuro Fukuyama and Prime Minister Mr. Mizengo Pinda of Tanzania. The exchange of notes was to tarmac the road between Iringa and Dodoma (260km) and between Tunduru and Namtumbo (193km). The project was co-financed by the African Development Bank, with a total cost being 33.5 Japanese yen, which includes the finance by Japan for 7.119 billion Japanese yen. The project was implemented by TANROADS and the construction work was undertaken by several Chinese companies.
The road between Iringa and Dodoma is part of the Trans African Highway that connects Africa from North to South, from Cairo to Cape Town. By the tarring of this road, it is expected that it will not only benefit Tanzanian citizens living nearby the road, but also to benefit other countries in the area in terms of distribution of products, and thereby also contribute to poverty reduction.
During this ceremony, there were present from the Tanzanian government side, H.E. President Jakaya Kikwete, Hon. Dr. William Mgimwa, Minister of Finance, Hon. Dr. John Magufuli, Minister of Transport, Hon. Mr. William Lukuvi, Minister in the Prime Minister’s office, as well as Ms. Tonia Kandiero, Resident Representative of the African Development Bank in Tanzania. The Tanzanian side expressed their appreciation to Japan, at an event which attracted the attention and participation of various members of the media as well as citizens living along the road.
Minister Kazuyoshi Matsunaga, representing the Embassy of Japan, during his speech expressed the hope that the project would improve the country’s transport and traffic system and contribute to the advancement of the economy and of the society as a whole.
