THE government yesterday signed a $30 million (68.5bn/-) grant agreement with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to finance the construction of the Dodoma City Inner Ring Roads Project.

At the signing ceremony, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Finance, Dr Natu Mwamba, stated that the project will enhance traffic flow and improve the living environment in Dodoma.

The plan includes constructing a new four-lane section from Image Roundabout to Makulu Roundabout and widening the existing road from Bahi to Image Roundabout from two lanes to four.

"This is part of the ongoing support reflected in the growing number of bilateral development projects backed by the Japanese government. Tanzania has greatly benefited from this support, particularly in agriculture, water, health, and energy," she said.

Dr Natu highlighted that the projects align with Tanzania's Five-Year Development Plan (2021/22–2025/26), which focuses on competitiveness and industrialization for human development, aiming to enhance efficiency and productivity.

"The current plan contributes to achieving the Tanzania Development Vision 2025 and serves as a benchmark for the forthcoming Tanzania Development Vision 2050," she added.

The project will develop approximately 3.1 kilometers of new roads and expand about 3.4 kilometers of existing roads in Dodoma.

Japanese Ambassador to Tanzania, Yasushi Misawa, emphasized Dodoma's strategic location within the Central Corridor, which is crucial for the growing East African economy.

He stated that the ring road is vital for developing the Central Corridor’s road network and for minimizing traffic congestion in the city center, thereby reducing air and noise pollution.

At TICAD 7 in 2019, Japan reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening ties with Africa and developing quality infrastructure to promote connectivity for economic growth.

The Dodoma City Ring Road project aligns with these goals, and JICA has committed approximately $30 million for its implementation.

In August 2018, the government signed a $180 million (414.07 billion TZS) loan agreement with Japan to finance the construction of the 110.2-kilometer Dodoma City Outer Ring Road to bitumen standard as part of a strategic move to open up Dodoma.