Landlocked Burundi and Rwanda will start work next year to build a 691 km railway line connecting both countries to Tanzania, at an estimated cost of $4 billion.

Construction of the railway line will take five years and is aimed at reducing the cost of transporting imported goods, from 40% of total costs to 5%.

The railway construction will be funded by Burundi, Rwanda and donors. Both countries will however work with Tanzania to seek finance. Discussions are already underway with the African Development Bank, which financed the feasibility studies.

The railway will aid coffee exports, Burundi’s main hard currency earner.  It will also help movement of minerals such as nickel through Dar es Salaam and Mombasa ports.