•Lead Executive Officer for Logistics Administration from the Ethiopian Maritime Authority Yalew Tesfaye said the country had successfully shipped bulk cargo through the Port of Lamu.
•He said Lapsett offers Ethiopia an opportunity to ensure sustainable access to multiple seaports to support its growing economy and population.
Image: CHETI PRAXIDES
The successful implementation of the Lapsset Corridor Programme will open up opportunities in the region and improve its economic fortunes.
Experts reiterated this position in a two-day second Joint Technical Committee meeting in Nairobi that concluded on Thursday.
The meeting reviewed and validated a proposed regional coordination mechanism to streamline the development of the Corridor, a vital infrastructure project that will boost regional integration and economy.
This crucial step, supported by the Economic Commission for Africa, aligns with decisions made at the 2023 Third Ministerial Council Meeting in Juba, South Sudan.
Representatives from Ethiopia, Kenya and South Sudan attended the meeting which involved partners from the Nepad /African Peer Review Mechanism Secretariat and the Economic Commission for Africa.
Lapsset Corridor Development Authority Director General Stephen Ikua said the project will succeed with a shared commitment.
“With the successful conclusion of the second LAPSSET Joint Technical Committee meeting, the validation and signing of the Regional Coordination Mechanism report has now been done, culminating in the adoption of the Report by the three Partner States,” Ikua said.
Ikua highlighted the benefits of establishing a regional coordination framework and streamlining the financing approach for cross-border components of the programme.
The Lapsset project, as initially designed, involved several components.
These included a 32-berth port at Manda Bay in Lamu and an inter-regional standard gauge railway connecting Lamu to Juba in South Sudan and Addis Ababa in Ethiopia.
There was also a road network and oil pipelines from South Sudan and Ethiopia, an oil refinery at Bargoni, three international airports and three resort cities, namely Lamu, Isiolo and Lake Turkana shores.
It includes a multi-purpose High Grand Falls Dam on the Tana River.
The three-day meeting reviewed the recommendations from the first JTC meeting. It also reviewed and validated the Lapsett Regional Coordination Mechanism structures.
It sought to finalise the programme and provide updates on preparations for the fourth Ministerial Council, which is anticipated to be a landmark event.
Lead Executive Officer for Logistics Administration from the Ethiopian Maritime Authority Yalew Tesfaye said the country had successfully shipped bulk cargo through the Port of Lamu.
He said Lapsett offers Ethiopia an opportunity to ensure sustainable access to multiple seaports to support its growing economy and population.
South Sudan said it would start constructing the road section between the Kenya/South Sudan border and Juba.
Director General for the Road and Safety Authority of South Sudan Lado Tombe said the programme was a top priority for South Sudan, adding that the World Bank has agreed to fund the engineering design and construction of the Nadapal- Juba road, marking a significant milestone for the project.
Nepad/APRM Kenya Secretariat CEO Samori Okwiya commended member states and stakeholders for the progress made thus far.
Regional Integration and Trade Division of the UN ECA director Stephen Karingi said the Corridor will enhance regional connectivity, integration, and trade and achieve SDGs and the AU Agenda 2063.
He acknowledged the tangible progress in implementing the Juba Ministerial Commitments that call on LAPSSET member states to integrate corridor projects into their national development plans.
He reaffirmed ECA’s continued support towards strengthened collaborations among the three member states.
The meeting discussed available options for establishing the RCM.
This paves the way for developing the legal framework, which will be presented at the next JTC meeting and subsequently to the 4th Ministerial Council for adoption.
The JTC extended its appreciation to the ECA for the continued support of the Lapsett Programme and the facilitation of the development and validation processes of the RCM frameworks.