Guinea parliament approves $336M loan for highway
The loan will finance 160 kilometers of roadworks to open an agricultural corridor in the north-central region.
Guinea’s Parliament has approved a €300 million (US$336.45 million) loan for the construction and paving of the Labé-Tougué national road. The project covers over 160 kilometers of roadworks, including a 149-kilometer section of the main road, 11 kilometers of the Banti-Koubia access road, and a 200-metre bridge over the Bafing River. Construction is expected to take 36 months.
This investment targets a region with significant agricultural potential, including corn, fonio, peanuts, potatoes, and livestock. Poor road conditions have hindered the commercialization of these resources, with produce currently reaching Conakry, 400 kilometers away, via roads that become impassable during the rainy season from May to October. Paving the corridor aims to enable year-round movement and reduce transport costs.
The project is part of Guinea’s Simandou 2040 strategic development programme. Benefits depend on complementary investments in agricultural marketing and distribution networks. Logistics operators will assess the corridor’s value based on its connection to the broader Trans-Guinean network serving Conakry’s port and Simandou mining developments.
Why it mattersFarmers in the Fouta Djallon highlands will benefit from improved road access for their produce and livestock.