LUANDA, Jan. 6 (Xinhua) -- A livelihood-oriented road project built by a Chinese enterprise has officially broken ground in central Angola's Bie Province, becoming the first infrastructure project launched by the provincial government in 2026.
The project, undertaken by China Railway 20 Bureau Group (CR20), involves the Phase II asphalt paving and expansion of a section of the EN205 national highway, linking the Immigration Roundabout in Kuito City to the Caluapanda River Bridge.
The groundbreaking ceremony on Monday was attended by provincial and municipal officials from Bie, along with representatives of the Chinese company.
Speaking at the event, Bie Provincial Governor Celeste Elavoco David Adolfo said that launching the year's first project reflects the government's high expectations. She noted that the road widening will help ease traffic congestion and improve mobility for local residents, describing it as a concrete commitment to improving people's livelihoods.
Liu Kai, CR20 project manager, said the road is a key supporting infrastructure project along the Benguela Railway economic belt, with far-reaching significance for local development. Once upgraded, the main artery is expected to substantially improve traffic efficiency and resilience to extreme weather, while addressing long-standing river-crossing bottlenecks during the rainy season.
According to the CR20, the project will help reduce logistics costs along the corridor, stimulate the development of agriculture and mining, improve the local business environment to attract investment, and create employment opportunities for local residents, while fostering skilled workers in asphalt paving and machinery operation.
The project will also strengthen Kuito's role as a regional transport hub, enhance connectivity, and extend access to public services such as healthcare and education, supporting integrated urban-rural development and forming a virtuous cycle linking roads, industries, and employment, Liu said. ■
