By : Nakachew Ayele
Addis Ababa (Ethiopia Today) May 30, 2023: The Ethio-Djibouti Railway S.C (EDR) announced that it has transported over 1.56 million tons of goods over the last nine months of the current fiscal year.
EDR Chief Executive Officer Abdi Zenebe (PhD) said that the company has been facilitating the import and export of the critical commodities as a key of restructuring and improving the service, minimizing demerge fee and reaching goods to the beneficiaries in time the state media reports .
He further stated that the company has been expediting the import and export trade of the country via enhancing railway transportation services.
“EDR has also enabled to save over 798 million Birr of expenditure exerting utmost efforts in the logistics and transport sector .” He stated the railway has transported 1.56 million tons of import and export commodities in the reported period , hence it was possible to cover 15% of the nation’s total income and moreover it saves over 798 million Birr
He said :“ Series of discussions were made with the federal police, Ethiopian Electric Power (EEP) and elderly to halt challenges such as power fluctuation, security problem, and lack of awareness in the areas where the train passes through, it has been possible to come up with promising outcomes.”
“Earlier, the train has mainly transported containers, wheat, coil steel, fertilizer and currently we have officially commenced importing vehicles,” he added. Citing the role the of railway transport sector for the nation’s economic development, the CEO said, “Ethiopia needs to enhance the railway service since it is a land locked country.”
“The logistic and transport sector is ever increasing its efficiencywith 35 to 41% every year since it went operational. The railway has registered better achievements in transporting machinery, vehicles, fertilizers, commercial goods and commodities imported by the private sector operators and the Ethiopians Shipping and Logistics Services Enterprise,” he opined.
As to him, the company is currently preparing to commence freight services including the transportation of perishable agricultural products like avocado, papaya, mango among others.
“The railway transport cost is not only cheaper compared to trucks but also safer and faster, therefore, it is high time for investors and the sector to beef up their capacity to reach out the global market at a competitive price for the development of the country,” the CEO underlined.
Credit:EPA
