New Abay Bridge inaugurated
... the government has dedicated the bridge to the
third Ethiopian Millennium to symbolize the
renaissance of the country as the name Hidasie
implies.
10 September, 2008
Addis Ababa(ENA) - The new Abay Bridge constructed with the support from the government of Japan was inaugurated on Wednesday.
Speaking at the inaugural ceremony, Prime Minister Meles Zenawi said the inauguration of the bridge is special in that it coincided with a time in which the country starts realizing its renaissance.
Meles said the bridge constructed across the Abay River should not only be a bridge that enables smooth flow of traffic along the main highway but it should also be an instrument to speed up development of the nation.
The bridge named "Hidasie Bridge" heralds the transfer of the nation from poverty and backwardness to growth and prosperity.
The premier expressed his belief that the country’s renaissance would be achieved with the efforts of the public, particularly the young generation.
Japanese Ambassador to Ethiopia, Kinichi Komano on his part said the successful collaboration for the construction of the bridge signifies its role for further strengthening very good friendly relations between the two countries.
An aerial view shows the new Abay bridge(right) in Gorge, some
200 km (124 miles) north of Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa,
September 10, 2008. The bridge will be open to traffic in
October 2008
He said the bridge will continue to be a monument of the friendship between Japan and Ethiopia and at the same time lead to open up a new stage of industrial and development cooperation between the nations.
Minister of Works and Urban Development, Dr. Kassu Ilala said the bridge is an expression of the profound friendship of Ethiopia and Japan.
He said “the peoples of both countries jointly cherish it as a monument of and tribute to their long-standing friendship.”
The minister said the government has dedicated the bridge to the third Ethiopian Millennium to symbolize the renaissance of the country as the name Hidasie implies.
Meles on the occasion handed over special gifts to Ambassador Komano, Japanese Embassy in Ethiopia, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and others, who involved in the construction of the bridge.