South Sudan minister says new roads essential to economic growth

By Ngor Arol Garang and Richard Ruati

August 14, 2010 (KHARTOUM/NIMULE) – The southern government’s transport and roads minister, Anthony Lino Makana, said that a good road network was essential for economic growth, in a statement to Sudan TV on Thursday.

The minister said that the road will be a vital trade link between Uganda and Juba, the capital of the autonomous southern region of Sudan.

“Government of Southern Sudan recognizes that a good road network is an engine for economic growth as it facilitates efficient movement of goods and services,” Makana said in a statement to Sudan TV Thursday.

The minister said that the southern government was working to ensure that all parts of the region are accessible through road construction, rehabilitation of deteriorated roads, periodic and the routine maintenance of the road network.

“A proper road infrastructure is a prerequisite for any favorable trade to take place because it affects the cost of doing business, especially in a war emerging country like Sudan without direct access to other countries,” he said.

Makana said that insecurity in states such as Jonglei and Western Equatoria was hampering construction.

Infrastructure in south Sudan is still recovering after a 22 year civil war with the north that ended in 2005.

On the August 7 inspection Makana was accompanied by US Consulate in Juba and USAID officials who have funded the project.

The $200 million road rehabilitation project, which commenced in 2008, involves the construction of 192 kilometers of first of its kind tarmac road, starting in Central Equatoria state and extending to Eastern Equatoria state.

Visiting the site, Makana thanked the American people, especially the Ambassador and his team for their unwavering support to the southern Sudanese, vowing that, “south Sudan will soon establish a Road Authority which will regulate roads maintenances in the region.”

“When this road is completed it will be possible to travel from Juba to East Africa entirely along a smooth route. This is bound to have significant economic benefits for local communities along the way,” he said.

The minister said the construction of the Juba-Nimule road would also ease pressure on the Juba-Yei-Kaya graveled road, currently the most direct route to Uganda and beyond.

“At present the Juba-Yei-Kaya graveled road is a heavily-used freight route. However, when Juba-Nimule is completed, day trippers, travelers and other passenger vehicles heading into the areas near bordering southern Sudan will have another route to choose,” he said.

There is currently a workforce of 750 as well as 150 contracted workers and unskilled laborers working on the project.

Susan Fine, USAID Principal Officer who also doubles as USAID Deputy Mission Director in Juba, said she was impressed by the amount of work being carried out in the very short time the new contractors had been on site. “Work has restarted on Juba-Nimule on many fronts, and implementers are making excellent progress.”

Fine said, “Juba-Nimule will provide a major boost to the economy, cut travel times and ease traffic congestion in south Sudan’s growing business industry, while providing the access to outside markets.”

Fine pointed out that, “one aspect of USAID’s support to Ministry of Transport and Roads is building the capacity of Southern Sudan local contractors, who shall be paramount to future road maintenance thereafter.”

The Juba-Nimule road is a busy route with truckload of good and 20 buses move between Uganda and South Sudan on daily basis.

“There will also be enormous benefits to local communities, including significant investment in new and improved public transport services,” Fine noted.

US Consul General to Juba, Ambassador Barrie Walkley said he was pleased with the great progress of the road rehabilitation projects taking place on the Juba-Nimule highway.

“We recognize the development so far, after one year and three months from people should be driving safely from Juba to Nimule and other routes associated to this road,” Ambassador Walkley promised.

The initial phase of building involves the construction of seven bridges at various locations along the route and now completed. The next phase is the construction of an all weather sealed road which will be constructed in three sections.

The Louis Berger Group Inc, through its three subcontractors Eyat Roads and Bridges, Gulsan Insaat and ANT Insaat, under the Sudan Infrastructure Services Project (SISP) are implementing the project on behalf of the Ministry of Transport and Roads.

Senior officials from Louis Berger Group took part during the inspection trip.

The Sudan Infrastructure Services Project (SISP) provides critical public infrastructure and related activities throughout Sudan that support the successful implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement and the development of southern Sudan.

(ST)

Ngor Arol Garang was reporting from Khartoum. Richard Ruati accompanied the minister on the tour of the Juba-Nimule road on August 7.