Information note on major regional transport and communications programmes for Africa

Abstract

Although following independence in Africa considerable efforts have been made to expand and diversify the transport and communications networks of the continent, they did not seem to have brought about a substantial change in putting in place a strong and efficient transport and communications system necessary for the development of trade within and outside Africa. Since the early sixties the ECA has been involved in the development of the pan-African transport and communications systems as a means to foster regional integration and cooperation. Various initiatives were launched including the Trans-African Highways project, the Pan-African Telecommunications Network (PANAFTEL) project, regional seminars and workshops and more recently two Decade programmes on transport and communications.