Ethiopia's Railway: How a Billion-Dollar Railway is Redefining Global Trade and Overcoming Landlocked Challenges

The ongoing discussions between China and Ethiopia regarding an upgrade to the Ethiopian-Djibouti Railway. Ethiopia's Minister for Finance, Ahmed Shide, revealed these talks, with the Ethiopian government actively seeking Chinese funding for the project, which aims to enhance the railway with new infrastructure like bridges and stations. Despite the railway being a major, multi-billion dollar project largely financed and constructed by China, it has faced profitability issues and required government subsidies to cover operational costs. The upgrade seeks to transform the line into a profitable entity, essential for Ethiopia's foreign trade via Djibouti.