Initiated by UNECA, the Trans-African Highway project aims to integrate the continent through an expansive road system. Despite political obstacles, renewed momentum from the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) is rejuvenating this grand vision. With gradual removal of barriers to internal trade, Africa stands on the brink of a historic opportunity to enhance trade, tourism, and growth. The Trans-African Highway network, a bold blueprint conceived to foster economic integration on the African continent, has been a captivating vision since its inception in 1971. Initiated by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), the project aims to integrate the continent through an expansive road network. Despite political obstacles and inconsistent collaboration between countries, renewed momentum from the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) is rejuvenating this grand vision. In recent years, the UNECA, the African Union (AU), and the African Development Bank (AfDB) have worked jointly to promote this ambition that could set Africa on an unprecedented economic trajectory. Understanding the Trans-African Highway Network The Trans-African Highway Network envisioned as a web of nine highways lacing the continent, would be nothing short of an economic revolution if and when built. These arteries, including the Cairo-Cape Town (TAH 4, 10,228 km), Dakar–Lagos (TAH 7, 4,560 km), and Lagos-Mombasa (TAH 8, 6,259 km), would transform transportation, reduce road transport costs, and ignite a surge of commercial and tourism activity. AfCFTA and the Promise of Enhanced Trade AfCFTA heralds a pivotal shift in intra-African trade, leveling the playing field for producers and...
Trans-African Infrastructure: A Vital Tool to Ignite Tourism and Trade
Posted on: June 29, 2023
Posted on: June 29, 2023