In coordination with the Eritrean authorities, the Ambassadors of the EU Member States and that of the UK conducted yesterday a joint site visit at the first part of the road construction works now underway between Nefasit and Dekamhare. The visit offered an opportunity for them to get updated by the construction company on the implementation of the project, discuss related issues of interest and visit the company's base camp where the 26 pieces of the new heavy machines are currently deployed. Further construction equipmentand plants acquired under the EU-funded procurement project, worth EUR 20 million, will be delivered by April 2020.

The road, once its rehabilitation is completed will form part of the major transportation corridors now under development that connect the countries of the region and will help reopen the main transport corridor between Ethiopia and Eritrea. Its construction is therefore a major contribution to regional integration efforts and to the implementation of the historic agreement between Eritrea and Ethiopia in July 2018. The new road is expected to facilitate trade and development, boost economic growth and create jobs. The EU project is implemented via an agreement with UNOPS.