DODOMA, April 29 -- THE government has signed a 1.277 billion US dollar (about 3.34tri/-) financing facility for the execution of Lots 3 and 4 of the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) project, marking another milestone as Tanzania aspires to become a regional transport and logistics hub.

With the deal involving institutions from Sweden, Italy and Poland, Tanzania will be able to execute Lot 3 linking Makutupora and Tabora and Lot 4 connecting Tabora and Isaka, before the line is extended to neighbouring East African countries, including the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Burundi.

Speaking in Dodoma yesterday during the signing, Minister for Transport Professor Makame Mbarawa said the milestone represents another decisive step in ...