SA and Ethiopia sign agreement on transport co-operation

ANNA COX ETHIOPIA AND South Africa last week signed a bilateral agreement that will facilitate strong co-operation in the fields of aviation, rail and road, transport and general investment. The liberalisation of air transport services and better relations between South African Airways and Ethiopia Airlines were high on the agenda, along with aviation safety and security and airports development. Freight and passenger rail services have been identified as areas for capacity development as have the development of road infrastructure and effective road transport regulation. Both countries agreed to share information and best-practice with regard to overall transport regulations. Ethiopian Minister of Transport and Communication, Juneydi Saddo, who was in South Africa last week to sign the agreement, said the Ethiopian economy was experiencing unprecedented growth. The textile and flower industries in particular were growing and Ethiopia was now exporting to Holland, Germany, Israel and India.