KIGALI - Senior executives from major infrastructural companies as well as decision makers from African governments are set to meet Kigali next week to draw a sustainable plan that will boost the continent’s infrastructure.

The two-day summit that will be held under the patronage of the Ministry of Infrastructure, will mainly fast-track and integrate national action plans of African countries involving road and rail.

The Minister of Infrastructure, Vincent Karega, noted in a statement that Rwanda is in much need of infrastructure including roads, railways and others, citing that this summit will serve as an important platform to strengthen economic cooperation and harness investment potentials.

"Infrastructure development is one of the major areas of focus as well as appropriate maintenance strategies that are sustainable to our economic development,” he said.

The Public Relations Officer in the Rwanda Development Board (RDB), Linda Mutesi, noted that their institution has been invited to participate in this high level conference.

"During the continental summit on Roads and Rail Infrastructure, RDB will showcase and engage the delegates on investment opportunities,” she said.

"Together with the Ministry of Infrastructure, our aim is to see how the government can forge partnerships through Public Private Partnerships, in infrastructure projects”.

In a statement, Karim Sadek, the Managing Director of Citadel Capital, the largest private equity firm in Africa with investments of more than US$ 8.3 billion, also noted that the conference will provide an opportunity to showcase the firm’s proven interest in the region’s transportation and logistics sector.

Citadel is the lead sponsor of the summit.
"An efficient rail network could, in time, bring East African transport costs down by as much as 50 percent due to the operational and fuel efficiency of shipping by rail,” Sadek noted.

The CEO of the conference organizing company, Magenta Global Pte Ltd of Singapore, Maggie Tan, has dubbed the event "a congregation of who’s who in the transport sector in Africa” and encouraged relevant stakeholders in the region and beyond to attend. 

Officials from the World Bank, regional economic communities, other executives from engineering and construction groups as well as project financiers, investors and development banks and funding agencies will be in attendance.

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