AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT BANK APPROVES A LOAN OF 87.32 MILLION US DOLLARS TO FINANCE THE RAILWAY INFRASTRUCTURE MODERNIZATION PROJECT (PHASE II) IN TUNISIA.

TUNIS, 3 DECEMBER 2003 - The Board of Directors of the African Development Bank has approved a loan of 60.66 million UA, equivalent to 87.32 million US dollars, to finance the second phase of a railway infrastructure project in Tunisia.

The aim of the project is to modernise the railway infrastructure and rationalise management costs in order to enhance the efficiency and quality of the services with a view to improving the competitiveness of the Tunisian exports.

The project covers the coastal regions of the north, central-east, north-west, central-west and the south, including the governorates of Tunis, Ben Arous, Nabeul, Sousse, Monastir, Mahdia, Kasserine, Béja, Sfax and Gafsa where about 85% of the Tunisian population live and which account for the principal production activities of the country. In effect, the industrial and tourist centres of the country are located in these regions, which are dynamic in generating revenues and creating jobs. They provide employment in the sectors of agriculture, livestock breeding, fishing, chemical and manufacturing industry, export-oriented textiles, craft industry and tourism.

The project will enhance traffic safety for passengers and goods through reduction of accidents caused by bad tracks and installation of an appropriate signalling system. Implementation of the project will directly create jobs in the area as well increase commercial activities in the modernised passenger and goods stations.

The project has two components: The Institutional component concerns the conduct of 4 rationalisation studies on the organisation and sizing of the railway management support units, the re-organisation of cost accounting within the Tunisian National Railways Corporation (SNCFT), preparation of a medium-term railway equipment strategy and improvement of the environment of the maintenance establishments. The physical infrastructure modernisation investments component will involve upgrading and consolidation of the various lines to improve the traffic safety of trains and reduce accidents, fencings, construction of pedestrian overpasses, development of trading activities to improve the SNCFT's share in the freight sector, construction of maintenance depots, renewal of tracks and installation of level crossings.

The project is part of the Government's investment programme for the 10th Economic and Social Development Plan (2002-2006). It also falls in line with the Bank's operations strategy in the sector in Tunisia for 2002-2004.

The total cost of the project amounts to 67.32 million UA, equivalent to 96.91 million US dollars. The Bank's contribution will cover the foreign currency cost representing 90% of the total cost, while the Government will bear the remaining 10%, which will finance the local currency component of the project.

The Bank Group's operations in Tunisia started in 1968. To date, the Bank Group has committed 2,737.91 million UA, equivalent to 3,941.44 million US dollars net of cancellations, in 72 operations with disbursements of 2.40 billion US dollars.

Executing Agency: Société nationale des chemins de fer tunisiens (SNCFT).67, Av. Farhat Hached, Tunis 1002 Tél. (216) 71. 348.4540 ; Fax : (216) 71. 345.680 E-mail: SNCFT.DI@PLANET.TN

* 1 UA = 1. 1.43958 US Dollars = 1.78846 TND as at 01/12/03

Slim gibt es dazu auch Infos auf Deutsch, mich würde dies sehr interessieren.

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