A freight train of Ethiopia-Djibouti railway is seen at the Indode Freight Station on the outskirts of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on Aug. 25, 2022. (Xinhua/Michael Tewelde)
The Chinese-built Ethiopia-Djibouti railway on Wednesday started truck shipment from ports in Djibouti to the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa.
ADDIS ABABA, May 25 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese-built Ethiopia-Djibouti railway on Wednesday started truck shipment from ports in Djibouti to the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa.
The first batch of 63 trucks arrived on Wednesday at the Indode Freight Station on the outskirts of Addis Ababa. A special ceremony was held at the station to mark the arrival of the first shipment.
Ethiopian State Minister of Transport and Logistics Denge Boru described the milestone as crucial in Ethiopia's quest to improve the transport and logistics sector.
Noting that the trucks arrived at the station within just one day with better efficiency, saving time and resources, the state minister underscored the railway's growing contribution toward improving the East African country's import-export trade.
"Transport and logistics is an important aspect of the Ethiopian government's aspiration toward socio-economic development, in which the railway is playing a vital role toward revolutionizing the sector," he said.
A locomotive is seen on the outskirts of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on Aug. 25, 2022.(Xinhua/Michael Tewelde)
Abdi Zenebe, CEO of the Ethiopia-Djibouti Railway Share Company (EDR), on his part, lauded the move as an enabler to diversify the railway's service operations, which is eventually facilitating Ethiopia's transportation system.
Zenebe called on private companies to tap into the railway's transport and logistics potential for their import-export necessities from ports in Djibouti all the way to Addis Ababa.
The 752.7-km Ethiopia-Djibouti standard gauge railway, also known as the Addis Ababa-Djibouti railway, was contracted by China Rail Engineering Corporation and China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation.
As the railway significantly improves the freight market, the EDR said the railway is enriching its services toward realizing the two countries' ambition of building an industrial and economic belt, ultimately driving the economic and social development of the two countries.
The EDR started small vehicle shipments back in August last year. The new truck shipment service is said to further boost the EDR's aspiration to diversify its transportation service options. ■
