Opening Remarks by H.E. Mr. Estifanos Afeworki Haile Ambassador of
the State of Eritrea to Japan and Dean of the African Diplomatic Corps
at the Virtual Meeting with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure,
Transport and Tourism (MLIT) and Japan-Africa Infrastructure
Development Association (JAIDA) with African Diplomatic Corps on July
14, 2021
H.E. Mr. Mohammed ELOMMI Ambassador of the Republic of Tunisia and Chair of
the TICAD Committee in ADC
H.E. Mr. YOKOTA Masafumi Deputy Minister in the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure,
Transport and Tourism (MLIT)
Mr. MIYAMOTO Yoichi President of Japan-Africa Infrastructure Development
Association (JAIDA)
Mr. GOTO Fumikazu Director of International Strategies for Construction Industry
Excellencies and Dear Colleagues
Ladies and gentlemenFirst of all, allow me to express on behalf of the African Diplomatic Corps and in mycapacity as Ambassador of the State of Eritrea to Japan my appreciation andgratitude for organizing this important meeting before TICAD8 Tunis is held in 2022.
The role of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) in
the post-World War II economic recovery of Japan is very pronounced in many textbooks as the best practice and experience to be shared with many developing
countries. Many African countries have much to learn from such success stories ingeneral and Japanese experience in infrastructure development in particular.
Currently Japan’s infrastructure ranks among the best in the world. Of course, thisdidn't happen in one day. There is no doubt that quality infrastructure investmentof Japan can duly play a key role, as a positive ingredient to our countries social andeconomic transformation, if it can merge seamlessly in the resourceful countries ofAfrica.
Just to site an example, starting from the Red Sea Port of Massawa, the railways
infrastructure of my country rises as an artery of the transportation system ofEritrea to an altitude of 2394 meters at km 115, and then descends to 2342 meters
to the capital city Asmara at Km 117.600. The line then continues on a falling grade1

to Keren City, altitude 1390 meters km 104 and to Agordat altitude 606 meters, km
188. The line was originally intended to continue to Tesseney City across to theborder town of Kessela City in Sudan and construction was completed to Bisha, 31
kms beyond Agordat City. The Agordat – Bisha section was, however, taken up
during the war on the eve of the Second World War in 1942 by the British forces.
The railway line extended from the Red-Sea Coast across the trade corridor to thefood and mining basket of the western lowlands of Eritrea bordering Ethiopia andSudan. When the railway was running at its maximum, 38 trains were run during
24 hours in each direction and in a span of five years from 1952-to 1957 205,590
tonnages of goods were carried. The Railways Administration of Eritrea employed
more than 1700 people and many laborers. This is to give an idea of the possibilityof the traffic on this railway. Massawa – Asmara – Keren- Agordat line of 306 kms.
Side by side with this also existed, in this part of the world, the longest ropeway inthe world that connected the port with the hinterland capital of Eritrea. All theseinfrastructures and their services were destroyed in the First World War and thelong war for independence. I am mentioning these, in this meeting, as example ofinfrastructures which are no more. The old railway connecting Alexandria of Egypt
to the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa is no more a dream disturbed but arealistic demand of many African countries. The interconnectivity of Africa both insoft and hard infrastructures is a priority of the continent.
With this small note, let me wish success to our deliberations in this meeting,
Quality infrastructure investment is a strategic priority of all African countries anda solid base without which industrialization of Africa and solid trading andinvestment partnerships shall remain a dream.
Thank you2