The agreement, which amounts to 73 million dollars, aims to improve Ethiopia’s connectivity and logistics performance along the strategic Addis-Djibouti corridor, which handles more than 90 percent of the country’s maritime trade, the Ministry of Finance stated.

The project funds the construction of 142 kilometers of road from Miesso to Dire Dawa to improve its quality and safety, reduce travel time and costs, and increase the transport capacity and efficiency.

The project will also support local communities along the road section area by building infrastructure to improve access to education, health care, and water, and connecting them to the main corridor by constructing secondary roads.

Ethiopian Finance Minister Ahmed Shide and World Bank Regional Integration Director Boutheina Guermaz penned the agreement virtually.

Shide thanked the World Bank for its bold support and reiterated Ethiopia’s commitment to regional integration.

“I strongly believe that infrastructure development is essential for achieving long-term growth and stability in our region,” he noted.

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