Egypt’s Minister of Housing Mostafa Madbouly has discussed with Ethiopian Minister of Transportation Workneh Gebeyehu on cooperation in the construction of roads and airport by Egyptian companies or contractors. The main focus was participation of Arab Contractors Co. in building two roads in Ethiopia, both having a total length of 180 km.
The discussions were held on sidelines of 18th Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) Summit. Madbouly said he discussed possibility of encouraging Egyptian companies or contractors to participate in the project by Ethiopia to construct 50, 000 km of roads.
The discussions also touched on construction of a new international airport in Addis Ababa planned by Ethiopia by end of this year. Participation of Ethiopian technical staff in training courses in Housing and Building Research Center (HBRC) and training centers on construction and building crafts affiliated to Egyptian Ministry of Housing was also discussed.
Arab Contractors is also taking part in the US$140m, 170 km-long road between Cairo and Cape Town. Phase II of the project is set to end in 2016. The company, which is affiliated to the country’s Ministry of Housing, has a total investment of $2bn in Africa. Apart from construction companies or contractors in Ethiopia participating in road projects are also Chinese firms – responsible for 70% of road construction projects in the country.
The 18th COMESA Summit was launched on Monday 30 March and this year, it is focusing on “comprehensive and sustainable industrialization.”
Among construction companies in Ethiopia that have signed deals for airport building projects include Yotek Construction, Akir Construction and the Ethiopian Road Construction Corporation for airports in Hawassa, Robe Goba and Shire. Participation of Arab Contractors in the Egypt construction industry would be expected to provide competition to local and Chinese companies, although it would be in favor of collaboration between the two countries, which have also preliminary agreed on construction of the Grand Renaissance Dam.
