ADDIS ABABA – Ethiopia is going to build a railway academy that provides sufficient qualified workforce for the existing and planned railway projects to be built during the coming years, according to the Ethiopian Railways Corporation (ERC).
Recently, a group of journalists visited section of the 2.8 billion Birr Ethio-Djibouti railway in Awash-Kombolcha-Hara Gebeya line which is currently 15 percent executed.
Approached by The Ethiopian Herald during the visit, ERC Railway Network Sector Deputy-General Manager Behailu Sintayehu said that the training institute that planned to erect in Bishoftu town of Oromia State would ease the sector’s shortage of experts. The academy would also enable to provide qualified personnel for big railway projects Ethiopia would undertake.
Stating Ethiopia has so far been sending students to get training aboard, the deputy-manager noted that the railway academy would save hard currency and empower citizens apart from its role in technology and knowledge transfer. Also, the institute would have a paramount importance in developing Ethiopia’s railway industry.
The railway academy could serve as a center for other African countries.
Preparation is underway to the construction of the training center and loan is secured from the World Bank and the Government of China to this end, he elaborated.
Behailu said “Due to skill shortages, many African countries including Ethiopia have been importing railway software engineers, power supply, operation repair, construction and other experts from the West and the construction of the academy is a milestone to strengthen the capacity of local experts.”
BY TSEGAYE TILAHUN
The Ethiopian Herald 30 May 2021
