Ethiopia sets aside 8 Billion Birr for Road construction

The Ethiopian government is continuing in its effort to construct new roads and upgrade worn out dilapidated roads, says a government official.

Over the past decade, the country has spent over $3.6 billion to build 101,359km

Ethiopia has set aside 8 billion birr to construct new roads and upgrade dilapidated ones in 2009, a government official said on Friday.

The Horn of Africa country has spent $3.6 billion over the past decade to build 101,359 kms (62,940 miles) asphalt and gravel roads, Samson Wondimu, public relations head of the Ethiopian Road Authority (ERA), told Reuters.

The nation’s roads have suffered decades of neglect but the government has said the network’s expansion is a top priority. Crumbling or overloaded infrastructure is seen as an obstacle to economic development in many African countries.

“Recognising the importance of road transport in supporting social and economic growth and in meeting poverty alleviation, the government has placed increased emphasis on improving the quality and size of road infrastructure,” Samson said.

“The development of the country’s road network was given top priority as a core component of the country’s economic progress,” he said.

Nigeria and Ethiopia — the two most populous nations in sub-Saharan Africa — topped a new index of African potential investor destinations published this week.

The Horn of Africa nation, which had been cited as an appealing private equity destination before the global slowdown, was seen as attractive because of its potential for water and electricity service expansion.

Major roads are being resurfaced or upgraded and a network of local feeder roads are also under construction, Samson said, adding that all major agricultural production areas and tourist attractions were now connected.

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