(Ecofin Agency) - The Islamic Development Bank has granted the Republic of Guinea €41.8 million to finance the construction of the Boke-Quebo corridor linking the country to neighboring Guinea-Bissau.

According to the Guinean Minister of Public Works, Mustapha Naïté, the government “intends to use part of this funding to make payments for the acquisition of goods, related works and services, and consulting services required for this project.”

The Boké-Québo road is part of the Dakar-Lagos Trans-African Corridor N°7 identified as the backbone of the sub-region's social and economic development. This corridor is considered one of the priorities of the African Union's Program for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA) and the ECOWAS Transport Facilitation Program.

Funded by the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the European Union (EU), up to €87 million, the project will involve the development and asphalting of 112 km of roads, 87 km of which will be in Guinea and 25 km in Guinea-Bissau, in accordance with ECOWAS standards. The project is scheduled to last four years.

The project will also build a 140 m long prestressed concrete bridge over the Tinguilinta River; develop socio-economic and market infrastructure, tracks, drilling; and support women and youth groups, particularly in the processing of cashew nuts.

Once completed, this road will contribute to strengthening sub-regional integration and trade. In addition to opening up Guinea and Guinea Bissau to the outside world, this road will reduce the time it takes to cross the Cogon River.

Romuald Ngueyap