Skip to main content

Africa embarks on infrastructure development programme

African heads of state have endorsed the launch of the Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA), a multi-billion dollar initiative that will run through until 2040. Following their 18th summit, held in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa, they approved the implementation of the recommendations in the study on PIDA.
May 11, 2012 Read time: 2 mins
African heads of state have endorsed the launch of the Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA), a multi-billion dollar initiative that will run through until 2040.

Following their 18th summit, held in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa, they approved the implementation of the recommendations in the study on PIDA.

The study was a joint initiative of the African Union (AU), the 1586 African Development Bank and the New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD) Planning and Coordination Agency.

PIDA’s main goal is to accelerate the delivery of Africa’s current and future regional and continental infrastructure projects in transport, energy, information and telecommunications technologies, as well as transboundary waterways.

Its projects are designed to support Africa’s regional and continental integration, and PIDA’s longer term goal is to enhance the physical integration of Africa, boost intra-African trade, and raise African competitiveness in the global economy.

This is based on expert projections that African countries will grow by an average of 6% a year until 2040, implying that over 30 years the GDP of African countries will multiply six-fold. This continuing growth and prosperity will swell the demand for infrastructure.

Alex Rugamba, the African Development Bank’s director for NEPAD, regional integration and trade, said: “We also foresee the creation of up to 15 million new jobs from the construction, operation and maintenance of PIDA projects. Many more millions of jobs will also be created indirectly through the increased economic activity that will result from PIDA projects.”

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Success of toll road operators' conference
    July 12, 2012
    The 37th ASECAP Annual Study and Information Days held in Krakow, Poland, gathered some 300 road transport CEOs, experts and government decision-makers making the event "a huge success." Patrick Smith reports Toll road operators from across Europe have met to discuss the state of their businesses in the current economic climate and how to tackle it. Fabrizio Palenzona, the outgoing President of ASECAP (the European professional Association of Operators of Toll Road Infrastructures) and president of AISCAT (
  • Odebrecht wins Brazilian highway concession
    November 29, 2013
    Odebrecht has been awarded a concession for Brazil’s important BR-163 federal highway route. The 851km section of highway runs through Mato Grosso state and the deal is worth some US$2 billion, according to a report by Business News Americas. As part of its contract, Odebrecht will have to widen a 454km stretch of the route within five years and is also required to build nine new toll booths.
  • Russia to become the world’s largest infrastructure market?
    February 20, 2012
    Russia should be one of the largest and most dynamic infrastructure markets in the world over the next 15 years, and now "the time is right to begin a major push." Patrick Smith reports
  • A new transportation project for Northern Southeast Asia
    March 2, 2022
    Transport in Northern Southeast Asia is to benefit from a new US$145 million project