W. Bahr el Ghazal signs construction deal with China

March 17, 2015 (WAU) – The government of South Sudan’s Western Bahr el Ghazal state signed on Tuesday a memorandum of understanding with China Road and Bridge Cooperation Company.

Under the deal, officials say, the Chinese company agreed to reconstruct the Khor Hajar Bridge, 40kms of road and water systems.

“The agreed work will start within 60 days from date of signing the agreement and products will be handed over to the state government after accomplishment,” Zackaria Joseph Garang, the state minister for physical infrastructure told reporters in Wau.

“We have been engaged in consultation agreement with the company within the past three days to reach a consensus understanding before it came under signatory,” he added.

Zhang Yong, the Chinese company’s senior business manager, said their main target is to develop South Sudan’s road network, bridges, hotels as well as railways.

“We are very delighted that we have reached such cooperation agreement with Western Bahr el Ghazal state government on the main challenge which is our main target,” he said.

China is South Sudan’s biggest oil investor and consumer, accounting for 82% of its oil exports.

Last year, China approved a major loan scheme to help improve South Sudan’s infrastructure, including completion of Juba International Airport, which is half-built.

(ST)