January 10, 2022
I fully endorse the call by the African Railway Roundtable for the Europe Union to support the African Integrated High-Speed Rail Network. Whether Europe’s Global Gateway Strategy will actually fund this critically important infrastructure project is not clear.
The massive infrastructure deficit existing in all African nations is the greatest impediment to the elimination of poverty. Next to energy, rail transportation is the most vital category of infrastructure necessary for African nations to survive and develop in the 21st century. That U.S. and Europe have not understood this concept of physical economy for the last 50 years demonstrates a major failure in Western policy. That so called human right groups and NGOs have not made this–energy and rail infrastructure–their highest priority in their advocacy is another sign of the ignorance of what is required for African nations to provide for the welfare of their people.
Let Europe and the U.S. join China’s Belt and Road Initiative in bringing vitally required infrastructure to Africa.
Read my earlier posts:
Africa Continental Free Trade Area Must Have An Integrated High Speed Rail Network
Link to Europe World Global Gateway
Lawrence Freeman is a Political-Economic Analyst for Africa, who has been involved in economic development policies for Africa for over 30 years. He is the creator of the blog: lawrencefreemanafricaandtheworld.com. Mr. Freeman’s stated personal mission is; to eliminate poverty and hunger in Africa by applying the scientific economic principles of Alexander Hamilton.
Isn’t China a more likely candidate than the EU for this quality & scale of collaboration?
Hi Victor,
Yes, China is building railroads in various parts of Africa, and US and Europe are doing nothing to build infrastructure. African High Speed Integrated Rail Network is a huge project that can’t wait 40 years to be built as proposed by the AU. Even though I’d agree with you that Europe is unlikely to fund such a project, proposing to the EU is the right thing to do.
BTW: I enjoyed my 100 miles, 2 hour train from Abuja to Kaduna. First time Ive been on a train in Africa.
Take care