The construction of a Chinese-funded electric railway linking Ethiopia’s capital Addis Ababa with neighbouring Djibouti has been completed, giving Ethiopia the much-needed improved rail access to its sea ports.
The $4 billion project implemented by the China Railway Engineering Corporation and China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation will be commissioned in October.
The Ethiopian government hopes the new rail will boost freight and passenger transport in the country, ultimately boosting its robust economic growth.
Driven by cash-crop fueled agriculture and a growing urban population, Ethiopia posted average economic growth of 9.8% a year during the first half of this decade.
The landlocked nation close has closely followed China’s economic and political model.
