Rwanda’s private sector body to develop property on coast

Some of the stakeholders include Magerwa, a public-private bonded warehouse, Rwanda Tea Authority (Ocir-The), and Intra Speed, a regional freight handling company. Rwanda’s Private Sector Federation (PSF) is planning to develop a plot of land, in Mombasa, Kenya. According to officials the plot will be developed into a ‘dry port’ where it will operate as a centre for trans-shipment to the sea. The move is intended to facilitate handling and forwarding of Rwandan cargo coming through the Mombasa port (Northern Corridor). Over 50 percent of Rwandan cargo comes through this route. According to the development conceptual plan, the plot will have a car yard, warehouse and container terminal. Gustave Nkurunziza, the PSF Income Generating Projects Manager said, “Once developed, the facility will handle all cargo. However, Rwandan cargo will be given priority depending on the available space.” He said that the facility will also ease pressure on the Mombasa port, which has of recent faced congestion thereby negatively affecting trade and investment in the region. Nkurunziza said that the development of the plot is planned to commence next year and end 2010. “Currently, we (PSF and other development partners) are examining ways of developing the plot,” he explained after a meeting with stakeholders at PSF headquarters in Gikondo. Some of the other stakeholders include Magerwa, a public-private bonded warehouse, Rwanda Tea Authority (Ocir-The), and Intra Speed, a regional freight handling company. The plot that is about 12.9 hectares in size, is located 15Km away from Mombasa port. According to the recommendations from the meeting, partners stressed their commitment towards the development and agreed to jointly form a company. Nkurunziza said that partners will further meet in a week’s time for more discussions on the development plan. Without revealing how much each partner will contribute, parties also agreed to consider financing the project in their 2009 budgets.While addressing the press, Nkurunziza explained that each partner’s contributions will be decided after a viability study. “This is likely to attract more partners into the project,” he projected.Emmanuel Hategeka, the PSF Permanent Secretary said that the development comes after government through Ministry of Infrastructure offered the plot to the private sector in April this year. He said that the plot had problems all of which have been solved thereby awaiting development. Officials in PSF revealed that by the time the plot was acquired, it had rental arrears for 31 years worth Ksh6.2m (Rwf43m), which the development partners have cleared. “A notice of evacuation against the trespassers has also been issued with actions by the Mombasa local authority expected soon.” Ends

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Rwanda’s private sector body to develop property on coast