Transport Master Plan to Assure Dry Ports to Three Cities

Nov 12 , 2022

Three cities in southern and western Ethiopia will see the erection of dry ports if a transport master plan gets implemented. Hawassa in the southern, Jimma in Oromia and Assosa in the Benishnagul Gumuz regional states have been selected to build dry ports in 2025, disclosed transport authorities. Last week, the Ministry of Transport launched a national transport master plan to develop the transport industry and logistics infrastructure in federal and regional cities. The Ministry has been preparing a 10-year implementation strategy for the past two years, drafting laws, and increasing the use of technology in infrastructure development. It has partnered with various ministries such as Agriculture, Industry, Mines, Urban Development & Infrastructure and Finance to foster the strategy for roads, water, railway, and air transport development. The federal government plans to expand 10 new airports and eight dry ports. Dagmawit Moges, minister of Transport & Logistics, said the national master plan serving for the next three decades aims at making the country a logistics services hub, promoting economic development, increasing domestic production, innovation and sustainable strategies. The Ethiopian Roads Administration (ERA) has overseen the study of the master plan, designed by the Italian consulting firm, Italferr. An international consulting and technology solutions company, MIC, has been part of the master plan development work. The African Development Bank (ADF) has funded the project with plans to build 5,049Km of new expressways, 22,000Km regional roads, and the rehabilitation of 5,741Km. Authorities at the Roads Administration said that nearly half a trillion Birr was invested in road projects in the past 10 years.