ADDIS ABABA, March 16 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese-built Ethiopia-Djibouti railway is streamlining Ethiopia's logistics sector, serving as a "crucial artery" for the country's import-export trade, senior Ethiopian officials have said.
The officials made the remarks during a meeting on Saturday with stakeholders engaged in Ethiopia's transport and import-export logistics sector.
Addressing the meeting, Ethiopian Minister of Transport and Logistics Alemu Sime said the East African country is working hard to modernize its transport and logistics sector as part of a national ambition to transform import-export trade.
The 752-km Ethiopia-Djibouti railway is injecting much-needed momentum into this national ambition, he said, noting the importance of enhancing the efficiency and accessibility of transport and logistics services, with a particular focus on the railway network.
Experts and policymakers in the import-export sector at the meeting said that the Chinese-built Ethiopia-Djibouti railway, as a multimodal logistics operator, has significantly improved service speed and reliability since it became operational in January 2018.
Takele Uma, chief executive officer of the Ethio-Djibouti Standard Gauge Railway Share Company (EDR), said the electrified railway is fast becoming a preferred mode of transport for businesses engaged in import-export trade, contributing to the socio-economic development of both countries.
Underscoring the railway's critical role in facilitating import-export trade, the EDR chief said it is "a crucial artery for our trade," making inland-to-overseas trade smoother, faster and more efficient.
Unveiling a platform to connect exporters and importers with seamless logistics solutions, from inland shipping to ports in Djibouti and global destinations, Uma said EDR's newly launched capabilities include multinational operations, freight forwarding and customs clearance and documentation services.
Since its launch in 2018, the railway has continued to develop its freight market and expand its service offerings, including high-quality services such as cold-chain transportation, commuter trains for villagers, and special trains for automobile transportation.
