The National Railway Business Summit convened in Addis Ababa on October 21, 2025, to advance Ethiopia's railway modernization efforts. Officials and experts discussed expansion, financing, and technology to boost national development and regional links. The event highlighted ongoing projects and historical railway contributions to trade.
The National Railway Business Summit occurred at the Skylight Hotel on October 21, 2025, marking a key moment in Ethiopia's push to modernize its railway network. This initiative aims to serve as a foundation for national development and enhanced regional connectivity. Attendees included government officials, industry leaders, investors, and international experts, who focused on infrastructure expansion, financing models, and technology adoption.
Asma Redi, chief portfolio director at Ethiopian Investment Holdings, pointed out that the Ethiopian Railways Corporation (ERC) carries significant overdue debt from its time under the Ministry of Transport & Logistics. She noted, "ERC ranks third among government debtors to the Commercial Bank of Ethiopia, with liabilities of 80.17 billion dollars," mainly from constructing and expanding the national railway network.
Hilina Belachew, CEO of ERC, stated that the corporation has invested over USD 35 billion in major railway projects. These connect key cities and provide access to international ports. Four ongoing projects were highlighted: the Asab and Massawa port lines, the Sof Umar Eco-Tourism Connecting Line, the Awash Oil Depot Rail Link, and the Awash-Kombolcha-Hara Gebeya Railway. Each is valued at more than four billion dollars. In the future, all imported oil will be transported by rail, strengthening the economy.
The summit covered Ethiopia's railway history, from the Franco-Ethiopian Railway to the Addis Abeba–Djibouti Standard Gauge Railway, a crucial trade corridor to global markets. Topics included Public Private Partnership models, digital freight management, climate-resilient infrastructure, and building local capacity through training for Ethiopian engineers and technicians.
ERC invited investors to participate, positioning Ethiopia as Africa's gateway. Local businesses were encouraged to engage in construction, logistics, and manufacturing opportunities tied to the expansion. The corporation stressed that success relies on domestic involvement combined with global collaboration.