H. E. Mr. Sufian Ahmed Minister of Finance and Economic Development in Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia visited BADEA’s Headquarters in Khartoum accompanied by a high level delegation composed of Directors of Ethiopian Roads Authority (ERA) and Ethiopian Electricity Power Corporation (EEPCO), during the period 22 –24 October 2004, upon an official invitation from BADEA.

Talks between the two parties held at Badea’s Headquarters headed by H.E. Mr. Medhat S. Lotfy, the Director General of the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa for the side of BADEA and by H. E. Mr. Sufian Ahmed Minister of Finance and Economic Development for the side of Ethiopia. Talks covered different aspects of cooperation between Ethiopia and BADEA, and the prospects of promoting this cooperation to realize the objectives of development in Ethiopia.
In this regards arrangements were discussed for execution of Azezo- Metama Road Project, which BADEA will finance by a loan amounting to 13 million US $. The loan will be repaid in 28 years including a grace period of 6 years and at an annual interest rate of 1%.

The road project aims at providing the western regions of Ethiopia an access through Port Sudan as well as connecting the Republic of Ethiopia with the Republic of Sudan to facilitate the transportation of goods and passengers between the two countries, The road will be connecting with the proposed Trans-African Continental Road that link Egypt with Cape Town in South Africa and hence improve transport link along this vital African transport corridor. The project also aims at reducing the cost of transport of passengers and goods contributing to reduction of poverty in the project area.


Including this new loan, the total commitments of BADEA to the Republic of Ethiopia will amount to US $ 85.26 million to finance 12 development operations including Addis Ababa International Airport and Dembe-Bedele Road project and Gore- Gambella Road.