<\/p>\n
The AfDB signed a letter of intent with the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) during the inaugural African-European Industry Dialogue on Railways.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
AfDB Infrastructure and Urban Development Department Director Mike Salawou and BMZ Deputy Director-General for Economic Cooperation Michael Krake signed the agreement.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The partnership will focus on improving cross-border interoperability, promoting low-carbon transport and embedding sustainable transport policies.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
AfDB and BMZ will also seek to build a stronger African railway labour market through vocational training, skills transfer and sustainable employment.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Cooperation will begin with a feasibility study for an African Rail Competence Centre. The German Agency for International Cooperation will implement the study, which is expected to begin by October 2026.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The proposed Centre will combine innovation and training to support the modernisation, expansion and operation of railway networks across Africa.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Africa\u2019s rail network accounts for only 8% to 10% of the global total. However, the African Continental Free Trade Area is increasing demand for cross-border freight and passenger services across a market of more than 1.4 billion people.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cBuilding a railway is half the job,\u201d Salawou said. \u201cRunning it is the harder half.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Salawou identified five priorities: an integrated continental market, policies encouraging a shift towards rail, interoperable standards, financing that mobilises private capital and the skills required to operate railway systems.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Existing AfDB-supported investments include the Lobito Corridor, East Africa\u2019s Standard Gauge Railway programme, the Nacala Corridor and Algeria\u2019s North-South Rail Corridor.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
AfDB has also supported Morocco\u2019s high-speed rail system and urban railway projects in Senegal and Nigeria.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cBMZ is committed to working with our African partners to strengthen regional connectivity and support sustainable economic development,\u201d Krake said.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cTogether with the African Development Bank, we will advance practical cooperation on interoperability, skills development and other priorities that help build a stronger railway sector.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Salawou urged African governments to produce credible feasibility studies, implement reforms early and provide regulatory certainty to investors.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
European companies should offer long-term partnerships, local content and skills transfer rather than only supplying equipment, Salawou said.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The AfDB said it will support railway development through guarantees, blended finance and technical assistance.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
–AfDB\/ChannelAfrica–<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":43167,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"news-type":[44],"class_list":["post-47088","news","type-news","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","news-type-finance","entry"],"acf":{"short_description":"The African Development Bank Group (AfDB) and Germany have agreed to cooperate on modernising Africa\u2019s railways, reducing transport costs and strengthening regional economic integration.","published_date":"","news_description":"The African Development Bank Group (AfDB) and Germany have agreed to cooperate on modernising Africa\u2019s railways, reducing transport costs and strengthening regional economic integration.","form_embed":"","author":"","image_caption":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.channelafrica.co.za\/channelafrica\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news\/47088","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.channelafrica.co.za\/channelafrica\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.channelafrica.co.za\/channelafrica\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/news"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.channelafrica.co.za\/channelafrica\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news\/47088\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":47089,"href":"https:\/\/www.channelafrica.co.za\/channelafrica\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news\/47088\/revisions\/47089"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.channelafrica.co.za\/channelafrica\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/43167"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.channelafrica.co.za\/channelafrica\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=47088"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"news-type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.channelafrica.co.za\/channelafrica\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news-type?post=47088"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}