KOICA trainees want more SGR investments to cover whole country
November 10, 2021
10
Nov 2021
Theresia Victor
Dar es Salaam
Business
The Guardian
KOICA trainees want more SGR investments to cover whole country
THE government has been advised to invest more in the construction of standard gauge railways (SGR) countrywide in order to ease movement of goods and people and thus contribute to economic growth.
Participants at the KOICA organised online training of operating and management standard gauge railway line in a souvenir photo in Dar es Salaam this week. Photo: Theresia Victor.
Speaking in Dar es Salaam during a meeting of Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) fellowship program online training for Tanzania Railways Corporation’s staff on operation and maintenance of an electric train, Tabora District Mechanical Engineer, Edgar Bakuza said SGR remains the most efficient means of transportation globally.
Eng Bakuza who is from TRC’s Rolling Stock Department, pointed out that the construction of more SGR trucks to rapid economic development of the country while contributing to more revenue and job creation.
“Construction of more SGR trucks to cover the whole country will be a major factor in speeding up national economic development due to efficiency in the transportation of people and goods,” Eng Bakuza said adding that, in addition, SGR is also safe and cost-efficient.
He said in its efforts to transform from the meter-gauge railway to the SGR, the government has been investing heavily to ensure that all corners of the country are connected electronically.
Speaking at the same session, TRC’s Assistant Transport Manager from Tabora, Lucia Ngaiza said that the SGR will also speed up industrialization because it is cheaper and efficient hence lowering production costs for factories.
“But this modern mode of transport is environmentally friendly because it reduces carbon emissions,” Ngaiza said while noting that currently, some cities in the country are hard to access because of lack of reliable transport which SGR can provide.
She argued that an efficient transport system will also allow business people to easily move from one end to another while serving a broader market with goods and services. “The government should be keen to leverage major investments in infrastructure in order to boost economic growth,” Ngaiza added.
In remarks during the training, KOICA’s Young Professional, Seoyeon Park said that to improve Tanzania`s capacity of operating the SGR electric train, there is need to continue collaboration between the two countries.
“We are here to provide a reference to Korea‘s experiences to Tanzania so that the SGR train should function properly. We want to help improve Tanzania’s railway development strategy through this ongoing SGR project,” she noted.
Park assured her local peers that through KOICA, South Korean electric train experts will assist in building capacity of how to operate and maintain the system including management of the rolling stocks.
THE government has been advised to invest more in the construction of standard gauge railways (SGR) countrywide in order to ease movement of goods and people and thus contribute to economic growth.
www.ippmedia.com
