Railway Corp Launches Construction Unit for Regional Road Project

Aug 25 , 2024


[ssba-buttons]

The financial issues of Ethiopian Railway Corporation (ERC) are expected to be addressed as it establishes a new construction business unit. This initiative will focus on the maintenance of a 60Km road stretch in Oromia Regional State, connecting the towns of Robe, Gasera, and Ginir in eastern Bale Zone. The Corporation has partnered with IDCON Infrastructure Development Consultant Plc for consulting services for the project, expected to be fully finished by the end of the fiscal year. To undertake this construction work, ERC has obtained a first-grade contractor license from the Ethiopian Construction Authority. It has secured the contract four months ago, valued at 249 million Br, from the Ethiopian Roads Administration. The Corporation has also secured licenses for design and consulting services related to building, bridge, and highway construction. ERC, which falls under the Public Enterprises & Holding Agency, has been wrestling with marked financial issues with its debts ballooning to 126pc of its capital. According to the statement, diversification of services is aimed at mitigating the financial pressures the corporation has faced in recent years. The establishment of the new construction unit is seen as a crucial step towards improving the Corporation's financial health and sustainability.


Radar

Dangote, EIH Break Ground on Mega Fertilizer Plant in Somali Region

Ethiopian Investment Holdings (EIH), the state's sovereign investment arm, has struck a deal with Dangote Group to build one of the world's largest urea fertiliser complexes in Gode, Somali Regional State. The 2.5 billion dollars project will see EIH hold a 40pc stake while Dangote keeps 60pc. With agriculture employing over 70pc of Ethiopians, the government hopes the factory will cut fertiliser costs, create jobs, and boost crop yields while positioning the country as a regional hub. Design...


Radar

CBE Capital Joins Nib Bank for Market Expansion

Nib International Bank has partnered with CBE Capital, the investment arm of the Commercial Bank of Ethiopia (CBE), to expand investment banking services and shore up its finances. The deal covers advisory services, seeking to strengthen Nib's balance sheet, attracting capital, and positioning the bank in a modernising financial sector. The partnership follows a difficult year for Nib, where net profit dropped 36pc to 957.9 million Br and deposits shrank, despite paid-up capital climbing to ...


Radar

Credit Cap Nears Lift-Off

The National Bank of Ethiopia (NBE) is preparing to lift its long-standing credit cap by September, unlocking 1.3 trillion Br in bank lending. The move, flagged by board member and State Minister of Finance Eyob Tekalegn (PhD), follows years of complaints from businesses that borrowing limits choked large-scale projects. Eyob told a local radio station the reform reflects rising investor appetite and improved economic conditions, though he admitted "financing has been the biggest bottleneck for...