Ethiopia leading regional growth with sustainable, inclusive infrastructure dev’t

Addis Ababa, November 26, 2024 (FBC) – Ethiopia is positioning itself as a regional leader in infrastructure development, with a strong focus on sustainability and inclusivity, according to Minister of Transport and Logistics, Alemu Sime.

The 8th Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA) Week has officially commenced today at the African Union Headquarters.

Speaking at the occasion, the minister elaborated that the country’s commitment to creating modern transportation networks that not only drive economic growth but also enhance regional connectivity.

Under the visionary leader of Prime Mnister Abiy Ahmed, Ethiopia has initiated the Green Legacy Initiative in 2019, which this ambitious initiatives, aims to combat climate change and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

As PIDA focuses on regional infrastructure, connectivity, Ethiopia is significantly contributing to the transformation and integration of Africa, he stated.

The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), one of the greenest energy, plays a crucial role in providing hydroelectric power to the region.

Additionally, the Ethio-Djibouti railway, a fully electrified corridor connects regional seaports with land locked Ethiopia, enhancing logistics, logistical efficiency and regional trade.

Alemu added that Ethiopia, despite being landlocked, boasts a shipping line that significantly contributes to trade facilitation in the maritime sector.

Furthermore, Ethiopian Airlines serves as a pivotal hub for Africa, not only in passenger transport, but also as a major hub, facilitating connectivity across the continent, according to the minister.

Hence, “Ethiopia’s commitment to sustainable and inclusive infrastructure development is evident through these initiatives, positioning the country as a leader in the region’s growth and connectivity.”

Moreover, he added that the recent global challenges have taught us the importance of building systems that are not only robust but also adaptable, as reported by local newswire ENA.

“By investing in resilient infrastructure, we ensure that our communities can thrive, even at least adversity,” he said, adding it is also equally important to ensure that the infrastructure projects serve all segments of the society.

Therefore, we must advocate for policies that facilitate seamless movement of goods service and people across our nations, he stressed.

In this regard, Ethiopia is working on development of mega infrastructure projects that are contributing to regional integration.