
ADDIS ABABA – The Ethiopian Sea Transport and Logistics Service Enterprise said the Modjo Dry Port expansion and modernization project, which is being undertaken with a cost of 150 million USD is well underway.
Enterprise Public Relation Director Asheber Nota told The Ethiopian Herald that the project is expanding the Modjo Dry Port from 153 to 158 hectares of land.
Commenced in 2008, the Modjo Dry Port has a capacity of storing 15,000 containers at a time, he said adding that upon completion, it will have mega warehouses with a capacity of storing perishable materials.
This enables the dry port to meet international standards which so far has not been the case at the national level.
The expansion project has been funded by a loan accessed from International Monetary Fund (IMF), with the aim of strengthening capacity of the port and facilitating conditions for effective and efficient export of commodities, Asheber said.
Indicating that over 80 percent of import and export products are transported through Modjo Dry Port, he said studies have also been conducted to identify and meet the equipment need to modernize that service than ever before.
The agency is also negotiating with farmers to relocate them from project area by paying fair compensation as part of the project.
Apart from the expansion project in Modjo, the Enterprise has also taken huge hectares of land in Semera town of the Afar state and Dire Dawa City Administration to expand dry ports.
So far, the Enterprise has been providing dry port services in Mekelle, Kombolcha, Woreta, Gellan, Kality, Dire Dawa, Semera and Modjo cities. The Enterprise has also a plan to connect the dry ports with railways and major road projects.
Apart from creating a lot of jobs, the multimodal service has enabled the enterprise to provide prompt and well-timed service to its customers. This has enabled businessmen and companies to receive construction materials and commodities on time.
The Ethiopian Herald April 16/2020
BY GIRMACHEW GASHAW