The first mechanically refrigerated vehicle operated on the Addis Ababa-Djibouti Railway departed on Aug 22, transporting fresh fruits from Ethiopia to Djibouti.
The operation of the refrigerator vehicle on the railway was a milestone in export of Ethiopia's agricultural products and enhancement of its ability to show profits from agriculture.
Operated and maintained by the consortium of China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation affiliated to China Railway Construction Corporation Limited and China Railway Group Limited, the Addis Ababa-Djibouti Railway is an iconic project of the Belt and Road Initiative.
The railway has played a role in economic and livelihood development since it opened to traffic on Jan 1, 2018. Its transport volume increases by 40 percent annually and the freight includes grains, fertilizer, steel materials, cement and agricultural products.
In the first half year of 2020, transport volume along the railway increased by 51 percent year-on-year despite the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Cold-chain transportation will make it easier to transport Ethiopia's fruits to Djibouti and beyond and also enables transport of Djibouti's seafood to Ethiopia, which is a win-win for both countries.
The operator and maintenance party will continue to improve service to make full use of the railway as a transport artery and to contribute more to economic growth and livelihood in both countries.
It's worth mentioning that the Chinese consortium operating the railway highly values cultivation and training of local employees. The 34 Ethiopian train drivers sent for training to Zhengzhou, capital of Central China's Henan province, have returned to their positions and a workshop built in 2019 by China is also playing a part in railway technical talent cultivation, which will lay a solid talent foundation for future operations.
A view of the refrigerated vehicle to operate on the Addis Ababa-Djibouti Railway [Photo/sasac.gov.cn]
