The European Union (EU) pledges 540 million Euros to assist rural road construction in Ethiopia in five years to come, according to Ethiopian News Agency.

Mr. Antonio Capone, Second Secretary of and Head of Infrastructure Section at the EU delegation to Ethiopia, in a press conference held in EU premise in Addis Ababa last week said: “The result achieved in the road sector is remarkable. Ethiopia’s road network has increased from 26,000 kilometers in 1997 to almost 100,000 kilometers in 2014.”

He said due to the efforts Ethiopia has made, the road density per 1000 square kilometers has increased from 24 kilometers in 1997 to 90.5 kilometers in 2014.

Capone said currently, over 65 percent of Kebeles (local districts) can access the national road network, including during the rainy season.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency