Chinese-built railway links inland Ethiopia, one amongst the world’s quickest growing economies, to the sea
Deal brings reliable transport to Addis Ababa and access to plug of ninety five million individuals to small however strategic port of Djibouti
With Chinese conductors at the helm, a fleet of shiny new trains on Wed began plying a replacement route from the Ethiopian capital to neighboring Djibouti, in a very major boost to each economies.
The 750km railway, engineered by 2 Chinese firms, can link Addis Ababa to Djibouti, a strategic port district on the Red Sea, in regarding ten hours, a way cry from this torturous multi-day trip on a engorged, pocked road.
China’s bullet trains in race to win global high-speed rail market
“We’re so excited! It takes two or three days for a truck to come from Djibouti. The driver doesn’t answer his phone. We don’t know where he is and that can be a bit of a nightmare,” said Ethiopian importer Tingrit Worku. “The train could make a huge difference”.
About 1,500 trucks a day currently lumber along the road which carries 90 per cent of imports and exports from landlocked Ethiopia to the port – a key trade hub to Asia, Europe and the rest of Africa.
“This train is a game changer. Ethiopia is one of the fastest growing economies in Africa. The connection to the ports (of Djibouti) will give a bounce and our economy will grow faster,” said Mekonnen Getachew, project manager of the Ethiopian Railways Corporation.
Ethiopia was the world’s fastest growing economy last year at 10.2 per cent. However, the International Monetary Fund estimates that the worst drought in 30 years is likely to see this plummet to 4.5 per cent by the end of this year.
China Railway Construction wins pair of contracts in Africa
Despite being one of the largest countries in the Horn of Africa, Ethiopia is landlocked with no ports of its own. Both countries benefit from economic integration, with Ethiopia gaining access to the sea and tiny Djibouti gaining access to Ethiopia’s emerging market of 95 million people.
“It is the first standard gauge electrified railroad on the continent built with Chinese standards and technology, and certainly will not be the last. Many stand to benefit from it,” Chinese ambassador to Ethiopia La Yifan said in a statement.
The new railway replaces the historic diesel line built by the French in 1917, which fell into abandon in later decades, with frequent derailments.
Wednesday’s inauguration will be followed by a three-month test period, carrying only cargo but no paying passengers.
When the line is fully functional, uniformed Chinese controllers will welcome passengers on spotless platforms at newly built stations all along the route, while Chinese technicians and stationmasters will keep things running in the background.
“We don’t have the management experience yet,” Getachew said. “We have a management contract with Chinese staff for five years, with an Ethiopian counterpart in training.”
Chinese Navy logistics base in Djibouti will drive other investment, says adviser
China has invested heavily in infrastructure in Ethiopia, funding sub-Saharan Africa’s first modern tramway – which opened last year – as well as motorways and dams.
The new US$3.4 billion railway, with its red, yellow and green trains evoking the Ethiopian flag, was 70 per cent financed by China’s Exim Bank and built by China Railway Group and China Civil Engineering Construction.
A high-level Chinese delegation, in Addis Ababa for the inauguration of the railway, on Tuesday signed further agreements worth US$100 million to build roads, the Ethiopia’s state-owned Fana Broadcasting Corporation reported.
Natural resources from Africa have helped fuel China’s economic boom, and it became the continent’s largest trade partner in 2009.
T/H: SCMP
The 750km railway, engineered by 2 Chinese firms, can link Addis Ababa to Djibouti, a strategic port district on the Red Sea, in regarding ten hours, a way cry from this torturous multi-day trip on a engorged, pocked road.
China’s bullet trains in race to win global high-speed rail market
“We’re so excited! It takes two or three days for a truck to come from Djibouti. The driver doesn’t answer his phone. We don’t know where he is and that can be a bit of a nightmare,” said Ethiopian importer Tingrit Worku. “The train could make a huge difference”.
About 1,500 trucks a day currently lumber along the road which carries 90 per cent of imports and exports from landlocked Ethiopia to the port – a key trade hub to Asia, Europe and the rest of Africa.
“This train is a game changer. Ethiopia is one of the fastest growing economies in Africa. The connection to the ports (of Djibouti) will give a bounce and our economy will grow faster,” said Mekonnen Getachew, project manager of the Ethiopian Railways Corporation.
Ethiopia was the world’s fastest growing economy last year at 10.2 per cent. However, the International Monetary Fund estimates that the worst drought in 30 years is likely to see this plummet to 4.5 per cent by the end of this year.
China Railway Construction wins pair of contracts in Africa
Despite being one of the largest countries in the Horn of Africa, Ethiopia is landlocked with no ports of its own. Both countries benefit from economic integration, with Ethiopia gaining access to the sea and tiny Djibouti gaining access to Ethiopia’s emerging market of 95 million people.
“It is the first standard gauge electrified railroad on the continent built with Chinese standards and technology, and certainly will not be the last. Many stand to benefit from it,” Chinese ambassador to Ethiopia La Yifan said in a statement.
The new railway replaces the historic diesel line built by the French in 1917, which fell into abandon in later decades, with frequent derailments.
Wednesday’s inauguration will be followed by a three-month test period, carrying only cargo but no paying passengers.
When the line is fully functional, uniformed Chinese controllers will welcome passengers on spotless platforms at newly built stations all along the route, while Chinese technicians and stationmasters will keep things running in the background.
“We don’t have the management experience yet,” Getachew said. “We have a management contract with Chinese staff for five years, with an Ethiopian counterpart in training.”
Chinese Navy logistics base in Djibouti will drive other investment, says adviser
China has invested heavily in infrastructure in Ethiopia, funding sub-Saharan Africa’s first modern tramway – which opened last year – as well as motorways and dams.
The new US$3.4 billion railway, with its red, yellow and green trains evoking the Ethiopian flag, was 70 per cent financed by China’s Exim Bank and built by China Railway Group and China Civil Engineering Construction.
A high-level Chinese delegation, in Addis Ababa for the inauguration of the railway, on Tuesday signed further agreements worth US$100 million to build roads, the Ethiopia’s state-owned Fana Broadcasting Corporation reported.
Natural resources from Africa have helped fuel China’s economic boom, and it became the continent’s largest trade partner in 2009.
T/H: SCMP
Post a Comment