Friday, September 20, 2013

Djibouti Begins $600 Million Rail to Link Ethiopia, South Sudan

Ethiopian Radio and Television Agency (Addis Ababa)

Sudan: Djibouti Begins U.S.$600 Million Rail to Link Ethiopia, South Sudan

BY NESRU JEMAL, 20 SEPTEMBER 2013

The Djibouti Government on Thursday said that its rail project under construction would facilitate business activities and improve revenue for countries in the East African region.

The rail project is being undertaken by China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) at a cost of 600 million dollars and financed by the China EXIM Bank.

Djibouti's Transport Minister, Moussa Ahmed, had on Tuesday inaugurated a committee to supervise the project expected to be completed within two years.

Ahmed, who is attending the Joint Rail Commission meeting in Addis Ababa told News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday that the railway line "will facilitate access to different markets in the region and will also link Djibouti to South Sudan through Ethiopia."

Meanwhile Ethiopia's Transport Minister, Workneh Gebeyehu said that the new railway line would change the socio-economic conditions of the two countries as well as generate jobs for youths.

Workneh appealed to the project handlers and the government of Djibouti to ensure its completion within the time frame for the speedy realization of its economic benefits to the countries.

The Ethiopian Government is also undertaking a similar project handled by the Chinese company linking Addis Ababa with Djibouti. The Ethiopian project is also expected to be completed within the next two years, the Ethiopian transport minister said.

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