The 10th regular session of the House of Peoples' Representatives specified that the country's transport sector needs special attention.

The parliament made the remarks while reviewing the Ministry of Transport and Logistics '10-month performance report during the 10th regular session of the 6th House of Peoples' Representatives.

The House said in a statement that the complications in the transport sector not only expose the people to high levels of expense and mismanagement but also it is a lack of good governance.

The House noted that there were incidents that were not conducive to public safety and risk to human life due to poor access to roads and cross-border traffic and vehicles.

Honorable Shewit Shanka, Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Urban Infrastructure and Transport Affairs of the House of Peoples' Representatives lauded the reform of the ministry and the new structure of staff, as well as the integration of operations into a single digitalization system. She also testified that the ministry is performing better in all sectors.

On the other hand, she urged the ministry to pay special attention to reducing traffic accidents, modernizing the station service and disciplining drivers and illegal activities in a sustainable manner.

She noted imported goods and commodities should not remain in the port for long periods of time. On the other hand, she said Ethiopian Airlines which is the pride of Africa needs special sustenance and monitoring.

The Minister of Transport and Logistics, H.E Dagmawit Moges said a lot of work has been done during the budget year focusing on institutional and strategic issues. For example the completion of the ministry’s final 30-year transportation master plan is an achievement by itself.

She expressed her hope that the forthcoming proclamations which are expected to ratify by the house would provide a significant solution to the challenges in the transport sector. She also said that public service vehicles assigned to government employees to alleviate the problem of public transport in Addis Ababa have been provided with support in their spare time. She said the purchase of an additional 110 buses is underway.

The Electric Vehicles Charging Center, a pioneer in the transport sector and a model electric vehicle assembly plant, has been officially launched, she said.

She said efforts are being made to deliver logistics shipments imported to Ethiopia in a timely and cost-effective manner. She also added measure is being taken by the ministry to investors who consider dry ports as warehouses and who do not collect their containers within 15 days.

She said the ministry is working to make Ethiopia accessible to the African market by coordinating and modernizing its transport links with neighboring countries.

Translated by Yared Eshetu