Joint development projects grease the skid to regional integration and enhance connectivity among communities. Economic integration and regional cooperation have already become the order of the day with countries throwing their full weight behind mega infrastructural projects. As the world moves to a more globalized community, the issue of collective growth is drawing traction like no other time.
These days, countries have been looking for a reliable means to promote connectivity through joint investments in developmental projects, the dividend cannot be denied of course. In continents like Africa where financial resource and technology is scarce, coming up with a collective project is a rewarding action. The idea is with little contributions and costs, countries can achieve the optimum economic integration besides paving the way for increased mobility of their people.
It is for this very reason that countries like Ethiopia have been championing separately or collectively devising developmental projects that do not only serve its people but the entire Horn Africa region and beyond. Suffice it to mention, the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam. With the project in full action, the country can readily avail the much-needed power to other countries.
In fact, Ethiopia has been taking the lead in closely working with its neighboring countries to strengthen regional integration and people-to-people cooperation. Being an anchor state region and sitting in a strategic yet volatile region, Ethiopia is spearheading regional cooperation.
Besides its leading diplomatic efforts to help stabilize the region, the country is engaged in playing a pivotal role in economically integrating the region. And, its initiative does in fact strike a chord with other nations of the region. At the heart of such projects is the third Lamu Port–South Sudan–Ethiopia Transport (LAPSSET) Corridor Program.
The LAPSSET Corridor Program is Eastern Africa’s largest and most ambitious infrastructure project bringing together Kenya, Ethiopia, and South Sudan. According to ENA, an Ethiopian high-level delegation led by State Minister of Finance, Dr. Eyob Tekalign has been participating in the High-Level Meeting.
The High-Level Meeting brought together government delegates, business communities, development partners, and civil society organizations. Ethiopia has reaffirmed its resolve to regional cooperation in the meeting hosted by the Ministry of Transport of the Republic of South Sudan in collaboration with the UNECA.
Ethiopia is determined to the realization of the LAPSSET vision said State Minister of Finance Dr. Eyob Tekalign while stressing the importance of enhancing economic cooperation and regional integration among the three countries. LAPSSET project consists of seven key infrastructure projects starting with a new 32 Berth port at Lamu (Kenya); Interregional Highways from Lamu to Isiolo, Isiolo to Juba (South Sudan), Isiolo to Addis Ababa (Ethiopia), and Lamu to Garsen (Kenya).
The project also includes Crude Oil Pipeline from Lamu to Isiolo, Isiolo to Juba; Product Oil Pipeline from Lamu to Isiolo, Isiolo to Addis Ababa; Interregional Standard Gauge Railway lines from Lamu to Isiolo, Isiolo to Juba, Isiolo to Addis Ababa, and Nairobi to Isiolo. With the LAPSSER project in full swing, it should however be noted that realizing joint mega projects require political commitment and continuous evaluations.
And, it also behooves regional countries’ readiness to dedicate more finance and resource toward collective projects. Since the demand for socioeconomic growth is high in the region, countries should jointly explore collective projects down the road. In this regard, Ethiopia maintains an unwavering position to take the initiative and bring nations together to rally behind common goals.
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD FRIDAY 19 MAY 2023
