The Ethiopian Roads Authority (ERA) signed four road projects that span 290.5 kilometers and cost $244 million with four Chinese firms. The roads to be constructed are situated in central, northern, eastern and western parts of Ethiopia.

The four Chinese companies that entered the agreement and will build the four roads are China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC), Zhejiang Bayong Highway Engineering Co. Ltd, Hebei Construction Group Corporation Limited and Beijing Urban Construction Group.

CCECC Ethiopia will have the lion’s share of the projects. According to Li Zhiyuan, General Manager of CCECC Ethiopia, his company will build 103.26 kilometers of the asphalt road project which is expected to be completed in three years.

The road project in the eastern part of the country connects Jijiga, the capital of the Somali Regional State, to the city of Dire Dawa and is expected to be a good corridor that links the regional state in east of the country to the rest of Ethiopia, Mr. Li Zhiyuan further explained. He also said that this is expected to partially alleviate the transportation problems in that part of the country.

ERA’s public relations head Samson Mamo, speaking to Xinhua, said, "Chinese road construction firms have extensively involved themselves in road projects that have contributed greatly to Ethiopia's economic development efforts." Mr. Samson also added, “Regarding achieving our plans on road sector, Chinese contractors play a big role. They also contribute in technology transfer to local staff.”

Source: Xinhua