Railway Network Upgrade Positioned as Engine of Economic Transformation

Oct 26 , 2025

The National Railway Business Summit took place at Skylight Hotel on October 21, 2025, signalling a historic step in modernising its railway network as a foundation for national development and regional connectivity. Government officials, industry leaders, investors, and experts from around the world convened to discuss infrastructure expansion, financing models, and technology adoption. Asma Redi, chief portfolio director at Ethiopian Investment Holdings, noted that the Ethiopian Railways Corporation (ERC) carries significant overdue debt from its previous administration under the Ministry of Transport & Logistics. ERC ranks third among government debtors to the Commercial Bank of Ethiopia, with liabilities of 80.17 billion dollars, primarily used to construct and expand the national railway network. Hilina Belachew, CEO of ERC, said the corporation has invested over USD 35 billion in major railway projects connecting key cities and facilitating access to international ports. Four ongoing initiatives include the Asab and Massawa port lines, the Sof Umar Eco-Tourism Connecting Line, the Awash Oil Depot Rail Link, and the Awash-Kombolcha-Hara Gebeya Railway, each valued at more than four billion dollars. In the long term, imported oil will be fully transported by rail, bolstering the national economy. ERC highlighted Ethiopia’s railway legacy, from the Franco-Ethiopian Railway to the Addis Abeba–Djibouti Standard Gauge Railway, now a vital trade corridor linking the country to global markets. The summit addressed financing, technology, local capacity, and regional connectivity, with discussions on Public Private Partnership models, digital freight management, and climate-resilient infrastructure. The corporation emphasised training Ethiopian engineers and technicians to operate and maintain the network, ensuring sustainable growth. Investors were invited to engage, with ERC positioning Ethiopia as a gateway to the African market. Local businesses were urged to seize opportunities in construction, logistics, and manufacturing linked to railway expansion. ERC framed the project’s success as dependent on strong domestic engagement alongside global collaboration.