Ethiopia to Build its Ninth Dry Port in Jimma City
ADDIS ABABA – Ethiopian Shipping and Logistics Services Enterprise (ESLSE) is set to build a new dry port and terminal in Jimma City.
The enterprise announced the plan to construct the dry port and terminal on Friday.
The inland port will have a big role in facilitating the import and export trade in the western part of Ethiopia, known for several agricultural commodities including coffee, according to the state-owned shipping giant.
“It will have a big impact in providing logistic service to export fresh agricultural commodities to the international market quickly,” said ESLSE in a statement.
The port will be built alongside a major road linking Jimma City with the Bonga district of South West Ethiopia Peoples’ Region.
It will rest on 20 hectares of land located between Jimma Industrial Park and the city’s airport.
The enterprise is currently in the process of fulfilling some preconditions including compensation, to acquire the land, said Asefa Workneh, head of inland Port Operation Coordinator and Port Facility Development section of the ESLSE.
Its officials expect to receive the plot soon and start building Ethiopia’s ninth dry port there.
Currently, there are eight dry ports in the country located in Modjo, Kality, Gelan, Semera, Dire Dawa, Kombolcha, Woreta, and Mekelle.
These facilities have a combined capacity of hosting over 25,000 containers at a time and handling most of the country’s exports.
Established in 2009, Modjo Dry Port is Ethiopia’s largest operational inland dry port and can accommodate 17,539 TEU containers at a time. It also handles more than 78 % of the nation’s imports, according to ESLSE.
[Featured Image File/ESLE]
