Private Sector & Development #9 - What role for the private sector in African railways development?

“Without the railroad, the Congo is not worth a penny”, declared the famous explorer Henry Morton Stanley at the end of the 19th century. More than a century later this quote still resonates with the Africa of today. The continent is experiencing strong growth and the role of the rail sector is greater than ever before. Offering a lower cost alternative to roads, rail networks are also longer lasting and produce a lower carbon footprint. Railways provide an indispensible means of moving mineral wealth and agricultural products to market and are essential for opening up landlocked countries.