A transport corridor connecting three African countries has received a major cash injection of almost US$500 million to improve trade opportunities and promote regional connectivity.

The 1 065 km Lomé-Ouagadougou-Niamey (LON) economic corridor, which connects the capital cities of Togo, Niger and Burkina Faso, promotes collaboration on transit services and the development of social and economic infrastructure. The US$470 million World Bank grant will be used to expand trade by reducing transport delays for imports and exports through Lomé port, and among the three states.

The World Bank estimates the corridor accounts for 28% of Niger’s GDP, 40% of Burkina Faso’s and 72% of Togo’s GDP. The LON project aims to improve customs processes and transport data-management systems, among other goals. It is also expected that the project will decrease the travel time of freight from Lomé to Niamey in Niger by 25%, and reduce truck border-crossing between Togo and Burkina Faso by 62%, and 54% between Burkina Faso and Niger.

27 July 2021
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