Transport

New rail links with Russia and China and a planned overhaul of the road network underline progress in Mongolia’s plans to use the recent surge in resource growth to improve infrastructure and transport. However, there are concerns that political wrangling could delay the implementation of ambitious projects.

A much-needed, multi-billion rand investment programme – spearheaded by Transnet’s capital upgrades and targeting South Africa’s transport bottlenecks – looks set to transform the country’s rail and port services, although historical issues over project delivery and pressure on the government fiscus have made its implementation a more complicated prospect.

Plans are moving ahead for Kuwait’s country-wide metro system, which is hoped to address the growing issue of congestion and create a better environment for growth in commercial, business, industrial and residential markets.

Enhancing surface transport connectivity to neighbouring countries, the region and the rest of the world is a central priority for Bahrain. In addition to the development of internal transportation, the government has identified the importance of new road and rail links to Saudi Arabia and Qatar to strengthen the country’s trade position and support its economic diversification.