ETHIOPIA: Inauguration of new 303-metre Abay Bridge acros Blue Nile linking Sudan to Ethiopia, easing transport and boosting trade between two countries

Record ID: 457560

  • Title: ETHIOPIA: Inauguration of new 303-metre Abay Bridge acros Blue Nile linking Sudan to Ethiopia, easing transport and boosting trade between two countries
  • Date: 12th September 2008
  • Summary: ZENAWI IN TORCH LIGHTING CEREMONY PEOPLE ON BRIDGE / SIGN READING: 2000 WITH THE O'S ON FIRE (SOUNDBITE) (English) JAPANESE AMBASSADOR TO ETHIOPIA, KINICHI KOMANO, SAYING: "Facilitating further integration of the Horn area. At the same time it is considered as connecting the past Ethiopia with its future not only (inaudiable word) by the older Abay bridge but also by ushering in a new era when new technologies of skills would be widely put into use for the development of the country." RELIGIOUS LEADERS SITTING NEW BRIDGE (SOUNDBITE) (Amharic) ETHIOPIA'S PRIME MINISTER, MELES ZENAWI, SAYING: "This great work of art is symbolic of the Japanese government multiple development assistance to Ethiopia. The bridge will live as a standing testimony of the strong relations of the two countries."
  • Embargoed: 27th September 2008 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Ethiopia
  • Country: Ethiopia
  • Topics: International Relations,Transport
  • Reuters ID: LVA2XXUYD370WHUXZOFQUTODPYER
  • Story Text: Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi inaugurated Abay bridge in Dejen, Ethopia on Tuesday (September 10) which links Sudan with Ethiopia and aims to ease transport and boost trade between the two countries.
    Costing 14 million US dollars to build, it is the first cabled-stayed bridge in East Africa and was fully financed by the Japanese government.
    Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, the Japanese Ambassador to Ethiopia, Kinchi Komano said the bridge was ushering in a new era for Ethiopia.
    "Facilitating further integration of the Horn area at the same time it is considered as connecting the past Ethiopia with its future .... by ushering in a new era when new technologies of skills would be widely put into use for the development of the country," he said.
    Ethiopian-Japanese relations have been gaining momentum over the past few years, with heads of both states exchanging visits. The countries have collaborated on issues from agriculture, water resources to infrastructure and road development.
    Zenawi said the bridge was a standing testimony of strong Japanese - Ethiopian relations.
    "This great work of art is symbolic of the Japanese government multifarious development assistance to Ethiopia. The bridge will live as standing testimony of the strong relations of the two countries," he said.
    The Blue Nile is the longest river in Africa, known locally as the River Abay. It originates at Lake Tana in Ethiopia and flows across the north-western part of the country and into neighbouring Sudan where it joins the White Nile.
    Situated just over 200 kilometres north of the capital Addis Ababa, the bridge will also greatly improve traffic flow between the Ethiopian capital and the north-western part of the country.
    The new bridge has been constructed upstream from the old Abay Bridge, built by Italy 61 years ago as compensation for the damages Ethiopia incurred in the 1930's invasion and brief occupation.
    One of Africa's poorest states, Ethiopia is an agricultural economy which supports a population of 60 million.
    The Ethiopian government has named the bridge 'Hidasie,' meaning renaissance, dedicating it to the third Ethiopian Millennium the country will usher in on Thursday (September 11).
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