China-based EXIM Bank has provided $189m in funding for a planned upgrade of Fiji’s road network.

Costs for the upgrade include $99.5m for the Ba and Buca Bay roads, $37m for the Sigatoka Valley Road and $51m for the Naqali road.

Various construction and improvement works will be undertaken next year and will be complete by 2014.

The China Railway First Group will serve as the contractor for the project, according to fijitimes.com.