Addis Ababa, June 14, 2025 (ABN)
Ethiopia has made remarkable strides in infrastructure development, with its road network expanding from 26,000 kilometers to 75,000 kilometers over the past six to seven years, according to Engineer Yonatan Ayale, CEO of the Ethiopian Construction Works Corporation.
Speaking at the 20th “Foundational Development for Ethiopia” forum, part of the country’s Second Homegrown Reform Agenda, Engineer Yonatan highlighted that this achievement reflects more than 500% growth in the road sector alone.
He emphasized, however, that challenges remain, especially in connecting regions to regions, cities to cities, and rural areas to vital services. The CEO called for increased attention to inter-regional and rural road infrastructure, which is crucial for equitable development.
Engineer Yonatan also underlined that infrastructure is not an isolated economic factor but part of a broader interconnected system. He noted that transport infrastructure lays the groundwork for multiple other key sectors, supporting national growth and transformation.
The forum was attended by high-level officials, including Dire Dawa Mayor Kedir Juhar, Minister of Urban and Infrastructure Chaltu Sani, Ethio Telecom CEO Frehiwot Tamiru, Water and Energy Minister Dr. Engineer Sultan Weli, and other invited guests and stakeholders.
