The African blocks which include Tripartite and Igad are planning to hold a three days joint high level conference in Kenya starting on September 28th 2011 to discuss ways of financing key regional infrastructure projects.

An East African Community said that regional leaders are therefore expected to discuss such regional projects as those situated along the Lame, Djibouti, Northern, Central and Berbera transport corridors. It is the position of the Tripartite and Igad that such projects should provide network connectivity throughout EAC, Sadc, Comesa and Igad.

The tripartite includes members of East African Community the common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa and Southern Africa Development Community while the Intergovernmental Authority on Development comprises Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Sudan and Uganda.

The statement said that the objective of the conference is to advance the highlighted projects toward feasibility and bankability, allowing investors from the private sector, governments and donor community to finance such projects through institutional arrangements such as direct private sector investment, Public-Private Partnerships and Public Expenditure.

The conference seeks to sensitize increased investments from both public and private sectors into priority regional projects in transport and energy. The view is to advance public and private sector investments that will enhance economic growth in the region and provide opportunities for the enhancing of regional development in Eastern and Southern Africa.

(Filed by Matsiko Mike SteelGuru Uganda correspondent)