The Ethio-Djibouti Railway Share Company manifests that joint infrastructural development and regional integration is possible in Africa, Company CEO Abdi Zenebe told ENA.

In an exclusive interview with ENA, the CEO said Ethiopia has been transporting important commodities, including fertilizers, cooking oil and other critical commodities, from Djibouti and exporting almost 100 percent of its coffee using this railway which connects the countries.

He revealed that the strategy for the coming year is expanding and diversifying the business as Ethiopia has started transporting vehicles and cement, among others via same mode of transportation.

“The railway is not only connecting infrastructures of the two countries but also creating opportunity for the growing interdependence between Ethiopia and Djibouti,” the CEO stated, adding that “we have (therefore) to align our customs and other different matters.”

According to Abdi, this is a model infrastructure which plays a very significant role.

“This railway is owned by the two states. So, joint infrastructural development is possible in Africa. ”

Noting that the share company creates a lot of opportunities to further expand integration, he said “the regional integration between the two countries helps to improve the economic integration at multiple levels and attract foreign direct investment.”

The CEO believes that regionalization is very critical in society-to-society level integration. In this respect, he stated that the company has customers everyday going to Djibouti and the same from Djibouti to Ethiopia.

“We are creating bonds between the communities. So, at the national and regional level, the societal interaction has been enhanced as a result of this railway.”

In its five years operation, the Addis Ababa-Djibouti railway has transported nearly 530,909 passengers and about 7,328,500 tons of cargo.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency