The construction of transportation infrastructure has always been a strategic benefit to promote economic prosperity, especially for backward African regions. Ministers from Kenya, Ethiopia and South Sudan are meeting in Juba for three days to discuss a project to link Kenya's Lamu Port with South Sudan and Ethiopia to strengthen transport infrastructure in the region. The meeting, which began on May 17, aimed to expedite the implementation of the project to ensure regional integration as set out in the African Union's Agenda 2063.

Kenya's cabinet minister in charge of roads, transport and public works, Mukoman, said Kenya has completed a road linking Lamu port with Moyer near the Ethiopian border, and is now building a road linking Lamu port with South Sudan's border town of Nada More than 730 kilometers of roads in Paarl. The Kenyan government is committed to paving the Lamu to Isiolo road and has made good progress. He said Kenya was providing resources to the project to ensure it was completed.

Ethiopian Finance Minister Eyob Tekalign said that despite internal challenges, the three countries must move forward with the construction of the transport project to strengthen economic growth. He said: "As I said, we are committed to this grand vision, but to translate that vision into clear economic development, these mega-projects will take all of us working together and will require significant engagement from the private sector and the business community, Investment from development partners is also required. Tekalign urged South Sudan to show its seriousness and commitment by investing in the project.

Taban, South Sudan's vice-president in charge of the infrastructure cluster, acknowledged that Juba had done little to implement the project. Plans for the Juba-Torit-Nadapal road linking South Sudan and Kenya have stalled because of funding issues, he said. South Sudan's Minister of Transport Madut said that although the implementation of the project in South Sudan is behind schedule, the proposed project will bring great benefits and can change the lives of people in East Africa and alleviate poverty. Madut said that promoting transport links across Africa, as far as West Africa's Atlantic coast, is conducive to promoting regional integration and socio-economic development along transport corridors.

The project is the largest and most ambitious infrastructure project in East Africa, including several interregional infrastructure, such as highways, crude oil pipelines, communication networks, railway lines, three airports and three resort cities, etc., and is expected to benefit at least 2.5 billion people. Editor/Xu Shengpeng