ADDIS ABABA, Sept. 10 (Xinhua) -- Integrating the Chinese-built Ethiopia-Djibouti railway to strategic ports in Djibouti is transforming regional trade and economic growth, according to the Ethio-Djibouti Standard Gauge Railway Share Company (EDR).
Takele Uma, chief executive officer (CEO) of EDR, said connecting the 752 km railway into strategic ports in the Red Sea nation of Djibouti is transforming regional trade, boosting the two connected countries' economic growth, and strengthening regional partnership, according to a statement by EDR Tuesday.
He underscored the crucial need to further expand logistics opportunities by streamlining port and rail transport links. According to the CEO, the Ethiopia-Djibouti railway, as a vital infrastructure project, is strengthening the bonds between the two Horn of Africa countries, eventually paving the way for shared prosperity.
Noting the recent introduction of the Bulk Cargo Containerization system in the Ethiopia-Djibouti railway operations, Uma said the move is a game-changer in railway transport.
He said the new system represents a significant advancement in railway transport, enabling versatile containers to ship bulk cargo such as wheat, edible oil, and fertilizers. "By fitting onto flat wagons, these containers significantly boost carrying efficiency, revolutionizing the way we transport bulk goods by rail," he said.
Official data reveal that the Ethiopia-Djibouti railway had transported 680,000 passengers and 9.5 million metric tons of cargo by May 2024, with an average annual transportation revenue increase of 39 percent over the past six years.
Since 2018, the railway has continued to develop its freight market and expand its service offerings, including high-quality services such as cold-chain transportation, commuter trains for villagers, and special trains for automobile transportation.
In May this year, the Chinese management contractors of the Ethiopia-Djibouti Standard Gauge Railway officially handed over the railway's management and operation to Ethiopia and Djibouti after six years of successful operation. ■