GS E&C ups presence in Africa with new bridge
New Selander Bridge in Tanzania / Courtesy of GS E&C
By Baek Byung-yeul
GS E&C, one of Korea's leading builders, is increasing its presence in the global construction market with the successful completion of the New Selander Bridge in Tanzania.
The new bridge is located in Dar es Salaam, a key trading hub connecting the Indian Ocean and Central Africa. The project, ordered by the Tanzanian road authority, is the first bridge construction project GS E&C has undertaken in the East African country. The bridge will open on Dec. 27.
GS said that the bridge was completed on time without any delays in spite of the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Gaining the trust of the Tanzanian government.
The project was divided into the construction of a 6.23-kilometer-long road and the bridge itself, which stretches 1.03 kilometers over the Msimbazi delta.
The New Selander Bridge was built to reduce traffic congestion and improve mobility in Dar es Salaam, the largest port city and economic hub of Tanzania, and consists of urban bypass roads and a bridge that connects the Masaki Peninsula and Central Business District, GS said.
The bridge was the largest construction project in Africa to be supported by Korea's Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF). The EDCF provided $107 million in funding aid for the bridge. The construction project also attracted attention as a major project by former Tanzanian President John Pombe Joseph Magufuli.
The EDCF is a Korean government-led fund established in 1987 to support the industrialization and economic growth of developing countries and promote economic exchanges between Korea and developing countries. The fund is operated and managed by the Export-Import Bank of Korea under government consignment.
“The project was EDCF's largest construction project in Africa and Tanzania's presidential pledge project. GS E&C successfully completed this construction project within the fixed contract period, which has increased our reliability,” a GS E&C official said. "It will greatly help us have more business opportunities in Africa in the future.”