The European Commission announced plans on Thursday to invest more than $273-million in transport and internet access for poor African nations.
The new aid will help build roads and bridges in Uganda, Mali and Niger, and fund the installation of internet-capable computers in East and Southern Africa, said Poul Nielson, the European Union’s development aid commissioner.
”Integrating African countries more fully into the world economy requires large-scale investment in both transport and telecommunications,” Nielson said in a statement.
The EU pledge sees $24,9-million being spent on new technology to ”cut the cost of trade and investment” through regional organisations like the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (Comesa).
Mali and Niger are to get $62,9-million to upgrade road links between the two landlocked countries.
Uganda is to use its $109-million to improve roads between the capital of Kampala with other parts of the country. — Sapa-AP