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India to help revamp the Zambia railway system
Lusaka, March 22nd, ZANIS—The government of India has offered the Zambian government to help revamp the southern African country’s railway sector to re-position it to contribute to the economic development of the country.
India’s Minister of Railways Pawan Kumar Bansal following an appeal for assistance by Transport, Works, and Supply & Communication Minister Christopher Yaluma who paid a courtesy call on him in New Delhi today.
This is contained in a statement issued to the Zambia News and Information Services (ZANIS) in Lusaka today by Acting Zambia’s Deputy High Commissioner to India Bwalya Nondo.
India‘s aid to rehabilitate Zambia’s railway system will include capacity-building in technical skills, supply of rolling stocks and signaling facilities among other things.
The two Ministers have agreed to have the Board of the Zambia Railways undertake a study tour of India’s railway system soon, to workout formalities of accessing technical aid from India.
Mr. Yaluma told Mr. Bansal that a fully-fledged, reliable and expanded railway system was needed in Zambia.
“ The railway will enable Zambia increase copper exports and transportation of other goods and ease the pressure exerted on the country’s road network which is succumbed to frequently damage, “ he said.
Mr. Yaluma added that Government would also embark on an ambitious exercise to open up water canals and ensure they are maintained in order to promote maximum use of water vessels as a means of transport and facilitate informal trade.
The Minister noted that Government was also paying serious attention to road network expansion and rehabilitation across the country as part of the strategy to give impetus to Zambia’s economic revolution.
Mr. Yaluma was in India as part of Vice President Guy Scott’s delegation who attended the just ended 9th Confederation of India Industries (CII) Exim-Bank Conclave: India-Africa Project Partnership.
