For the purpose of maintaining and managing the newly being built Addis Ababa Light Rail Project, Ethiopian Railways Corporation concluded USD 106 Million deals with two Chinese firms; China Railways Group and Shengen Meter Group.

As per Fana Broadcasting Corporate the deal is going to last from three to five years.

According to the chairman of ERC and advisor to the Prime Minister with a ministerial portfolio, Arkebe Equbay, there was no local firm equipped with the desired knowhow and experience to carry the burden of administering as well as maintain the rails.

In addition to the administration and maintain the rails, the Chinese firms are going to test the the trains and commence full operation, Arkebe furthered.

He explained the agreement is made in a way technology transfer will be made to Ethiopian staffs, which contribute almost half of the labor that will be employed. As part of the contract Ethiopians will be sent to China for the purpose of being trained.

In five years time the entire work force, which will conduct administering and maintain the rails, is expected to be replaced by Ethiopians.

The Chinese firms’ performance is going to be evaluated based on the, among others, with the number of Ethiopian experts they have trained and by indicators of facilitating the city’s tram service.

Source: Fana Broadcasting Corporate