THE ROLE OF TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATION IN THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF EAST AFRICA

• Creating large market

Improvement in transport and communication has enabled mankind to move to different places in order to trade. Business transactions have improved because of the high speed of movement of goods, ideas and people.This attracts many customers while retaining the old ones.

• Creating employment opportunities

Many people are employed as drivers, pilots, mechanics and loaders.

• Promotion of tourism industry

Efficient and reliable communication means enables tourists to be aware of the available attractions. Well developed roads are used to ferry the tourists to resort areas and hotels. This industry earns the country foreign exchange.

• Exploitation of natural resources

Natural resources such as minerals can be mined wherever they occur because transport and communication would facilitate the movement of machinery, personnel and ideas to the area and also products where they are required.

• Promotes regional specialization

Certain geographical regions or countries can specialize in the  production of certain goods only. This is because transportation makes it easier for goods produced in one area or county to reach other parts of the countries.

• Urbanization

New markets can be opened up through the establishment of transportation and communication means. Goods and services can be moved to such areas. This also helps to make use of surplus goods from the regions reducing wastage.With time such markets grow and become urban centers.

• Promote development of agriculture

Transport means facilitates the movement of agricultural inputs to farmers and transporting farm produce either to the industry for processing or the markets.

• Earns government revenue

This is done through the collection of tax from various types of transport and communication, totals to large amount of money.

•  Promote development of industries

Availability of well developed transport and communication network facilities helps to locate industries in different places. this is because raw materials can be moved to manufacturing plants and the finished goods can be moved to markets that are away.