CRBC cements Sino-Kenya ties

New roads, bridges, ports and railway Lines strengthen relationship

A leading company in the international project contracting market, China Road and Bridge Corporation has played a vital role in boosting trade ties between China and Kenya.

Since 1984, the company has built roads, bridges, ports and railways in Kenya.

To date, 23 road projects, with a total length of 1,200 kilometers, have been completed.

Of these, a particular highlight is the Nairobi Eastern and Northern Bypass Project, which is 52 km long two-lane road.

The project was completed in March 2012 and has helped alleviate traffic congestion, according to the company.

With branches and offices in more than 50 countries and regions in Asia, Africa, Europe and Latin America, CRBC has established an efficient and rapid operation network across the globe.

During the past three decades in the overseas contracting market, CRBC has transformed from a simple construction company into an entity providing integrated engineering, procurement and construction services.

The company mainly focuses on roads, bridges, ports, railways, airports, tunnels, water conservancy projects, municipal works and dredging works. CRBC serves as a platform for overseas businesses of the China Communications Construction Company, which was ranked sixth in the Top 250 Global Contractors of Engineering News Record and placed at 213 among Fortune Global 500 Companies in 2013.

As one of the four large State-owned companies first going global, CRBC has completed a number of landmark projects, some of which won domestic and international awards. In recent years CRBC responded to the government's call of "going global" and made continuous innovations and progress in many projects.

These included the Tajikestan-Uzbekistan Highway, reconstruction of the Pakistan Karakoram Highway, reconstruction and expansion of the Mauritanian Friendship Port and the Serbia Zemun-Borca Bridge and its accompanying road.

Localization

CRBC said that localization plays a significant role in promoting long-term operations in Kenya.

There are 85 Chinese employees working in the CRBC Kenya office alongside 1,582 local employees and the office accounts for 95 percent of the company's total staff.

According to the company, local staff have jobs including equipment operation, experimenting, surveying, equipment maintenance and project management.

The company believe its local staff are an asset and to strengthen internal management and inspire employees, CRBC uses tailored strategies in training, evaluation and motivation.

'China Road'

A section of the Mtito Andei-Voi-Bachuma Gate Road of the A109 National Highway that connects Mombasa, the largest port in East Africa and Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, is known as the "China Road".

CRBC started to build the 150 km section in 1998 and it opened to traffic in 2000. The A109 is the most important trunk road in Kenya.

It extends into Uganda with connections to the A104 and to Ethiopia with the A2. The road is a vital international transport artery that links the Indian Ocean to the hinterlands of Africa.

To build the road, CRBC used advanced technologies for high standard, quality and fast construction.

To celebrate the 40th anniversary of China-Kenya diplomatic ties, the Kenyan government issued a series of "China Road" commemorative stamps to pay homage to the road and relationship between the two countries.

Social responsibility

In the process of strengthening relations with Kenya, CRBC views social responsibility a priority in its sustainable development in the country.

The company has devoted itself to public welfare activities. At the beginning of 2011 Kenya suffered the worst drought in 60 years.

As a member of the Kenya-China Economic and Trade Association, CRBC organized a campaign called "Chinese for Kenya-Turkana Relief".The campaign raised some 2.5 million yuan ($409,836), which was donated by Chinese enterprises.

The donations were used to buy 60 tons of corn flour and five tons of red beans. Vehicles were arranged to transport the materials to one of the worst affected areas in Turkana province.

In 2012, CRBC initiated a project that saw 16 Chinese enterprises from the Kenya-China Economic and Trade Association raise 4 million yuan for an extension project of the MCEDO Beijing School.

Future plans

CRBC is preparing to build a standard gauge 609 km railway track from Mombasa to Nairobi, which will bring its rich experience in engineering and construction of railways into the project.

The line, which is expected to take five years to build, will allow passenger trains to travel at 120 km/h and cargo transport to run at 80 km/h.

CRBC said it would build the railway with an EPC mode and Chinese standards and specifications.

The company hopes the railway will provide more efficient, secure and reliable passenger and cargo transport to Kenya and also boost the integration of the East Africa market.

Last August, President Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya visited China and along with President Xi Jinping witnessed the signing of MOU on financing for the Mombasa Nairobi Standard Gauge Railway.

zhuanti@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily Africa Weekly 05/09/2014 page24)