Guinea-Bissau Advances Transport Modernization Under UGP-CN Project

The Minister of Transport, Eng. Marciano Silva Barbeiro, presided over the official handover ceremony of new equipment to the Driving Examination Room of the Directorate-General of Travel and Land Transport (DGVTT) on Monday.

The ceremony was attended by Eng. Malam Banjal, the World Bank representative and UGP-CN Project Coordinator, Mr. Jaimentino Co, the Director-General of DGVTT, as well as other senior officials from the Ministry of Transport and the DGVTT.

During his address, Minister Marciano Silva Barbeiro highlighted that this delivery represents “a concrete step in the modernization of transport services and in the promotion of road safety in the country.” He emphasized that the initiative aligns with the Ministry’s strategy to enhance service quality, efficiency, and transparency within Guinea-Bissau’s transport sector.

The equipment handover forms part of the UGP-CN Project, funded by the World Bank, which supports efforts to strengthen national connectivity through key infrastructure projects — including the rehabilitation of the Bissau–Senegal border road, a strategic route vital for market access and economic integration.

According to the Minister, the installation of this new equipment will boost the institutional capacity of the DGVTT, enabling more efficient and accurate driving examinations, improving service quality for citizens, and ensuring a more reliable driver certification process. These advancements, he noted, will contribute to safer roads and better-trained drivers nationwide.

This initiative underscores the government’s broader commitment to modernizing public services and promoting sustainable transport development, while advancing the country’s objectives for regional integration and economic growth.