CONAKRY, July 26 (Xinhua) -- The Guinean government has announced an initiative to acquire 2,000 vehicles in phases to modernize the capital's taxi fleet in efforts to upgrade urban mobility while creating more jobs for young people.
Minister of Transport and government spokesperson Ousmane Gaoual Diallo officially launched the initiative at a ceremony Saturday. According to him, an initial 300 taxis is already available and will be gradually put into service to facilitate transport across municipalities in the Conakry region.
The initiative forms part of the Simandou 2040 program to speed up socioeconomic development in the western African country, with a focus on modernizing transport infrastructure and enhancing urban and intercity mobility.
The minister stressed the importance of public-private partnership in developing the transport sector, particularly through expanding ride-hailing services, to diversify urban mobility options.
In the longer term, the Guinean government plans to extend the initiative to other regions, turning the transport sector into a key development driver.
Diallo said the government will also put into service new buses along intercity routes in the near future, continuing to improve road transport in the country. ■
