Djibouti As Never Seen

[Abu-Salman]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chinese-built electric railway to replace Ethiopia’s historic French line

 

Camels rather than locomotives lumber over the railway tracks in this remote desert, famously traversed by storied French adventurers Arthur Rimbaud and Henry de Monfreid in the early 20th century.

 

The old French-built railway that connected Addis Ababa, the capital of landlocked Ethiopia, to the Red Sea port of Djibouti, is now being replaced by a Chinese-built electrified railway, a bold project that seeks to boost Ethiopia’s commercial exports.

 

The new project also symbolises a shift in Ethiopia’s international relations.

 

“You see nowadays that the dice are thrown differently. Chinese, Indian (and) Turkish interests are now taking over... times have changed,” said Hugues Fontaine, author of the recently published book Un Train en Afrique, or African Train, about the historic Ethiopian train.

 

Indeed, Ethiopia is casting its dice eastward — seeking investors to help it achieve its grandiose Growth and Transformation Plan (GTP), which seeks to boost economic growth and achieve middle income status by 2025.

 

The construction of the railway is a key component of the GTP: a series of eight rail corridors totalling 4,744 kilometres, creating a series of key trade routes to neighbouring Kenya, South Sudan, Sudan and — crucially — to Djibouti’s port.

 

Two Chinese companies are contracted to build the $2.8 billion line connecting Addis Ababa to the Djiboutian border by 2016, and Turkish and Brazilian companies are slated to construct other segments of the nation-wide rail network.

 

“We are working day and night,” said Zacharia Jemal, project manager working for the Ethiopian Railways Corporation.

 

Jemal said the project will create 5,000 local jobs, and allow Ethiopia to boost exports of key commodities such as coffee and sesame. It also offers the opportunity to get Ethiopian workers trained by engineers from the Chinese Civil Engineering Construction Corporation.

 

The company is building the line from Mieso to the Djibouti border at a cost of $1.2 billion, of which 70 per cent is financed by the Export-Import Bank of China and 30 per cent by the Ethiopian government.

 

Another Chinese company will build the Addis Ababa to Mieso segment[...] (theeastafrican.co.ke)

[Nin-Yaaban]

Seems like Djibouti is moving ahead quite well. Good job cousins.

[Odey]

Never been to Djibouti, but is it any bigger than the district of Yaaqshid in Xamar?

[Abu-Salman]

Japanese PM Abe Historic First Visit to Africa

 

 

 

Abe pushes national security, energy during Middle East trip

 

 

 

Diplomatic & Strategic Studies Institute

 

 

 

 

Regional Train Upgrade Mega Project

 

 

[Tallaabo]

I like how mega-sized ina Guulleh uu kursiga ugu baraaqo:p Seriously Somali politicians should lose some of their massive flab. They should cut down on their daily intake of hilib iyo baruur and hit the gym.

[Hobbesian_Brute]

Tallaabo;976152 wrote:

I like how mega-sized ina Guulleh uu kursiga ugu baraaqo:p Seriously Somali politicians should lose some of their massive flab. They should cut down on their daily intake of hilib iyo baruur and hit the gym.

its genetic, they can't do nothing about sadly.

 

Djibouti is enjoying peace dividends, the architecture is pleasant unlike the eye sores in somalia. french and foreigners built most of the buildings, djiboutians had no input.

[Abu-Salman]

Eagle group Noureddine Ayed Choose Djibouti

 

With an experience of 44 years in business, Noureddine Ayed is the CEO of Eagle Ayed Group and the deputy head of IMI (International Industrial Maintenance). The Tunisian businessman finds similarities between his country and ours. He was convinced that Djibouti will become a prosperous country like Dubai and Singapore and business acumen told him to invest here. That is why he has created a local subsidiary of IMI which will soon open its doors in the capital.

 

Since few years, many foreign investors are in the Republic of Djibouti.They follow but differ from each other by their actions. One of the most proeminent businessmen in Tunisia recently stayed in the capital to formalize the creation of a company. It is in this case Noureddine Ayed, President and CEO of Eagle Group Ayed or EAG (its acronym) and chief executive of IMI (International Industrial Maintenance) one of the most successful groups in Tunisia, covering various fields of activities.

These include industrial maintenance in the oil sector, the aviation, agribusiness, construction, finance, marketing, training and technical assistance. During his stay in Djibouti, the Tunisian investor had discussions with policymakers and private operators.

And on the initiative of a banker who instead urged to take advantage of investment opportunities offered by the Republic of Djibouti. With an experience of 44 years in business, Noureddine Ayed finds similarities between his country and ours.

"I am convinced that Djibouti will become a prosperous country like Dubai and Singapore and my business instinct told me to invest here" he said during our meeting.

An electromechanical engineer, the man has created in the 70's a small business of industrial services manufacturing ironing appliances to upgrade later to IMI (International Industrial Maintenance) dealing with industrial projects on land and sea The company has since become a technical assistance multinational and global provider in the oil industry, gas and aviation.

"The strength of the company in this 24 countries around the world has been built around a vertical and horizontal integration strategy, thus contributing to the expansion of the group, not only the local market but most importantly on the international market, "says proudly Noureddine Ayed whose wish is to replicate the success of its revenues in the Republic of Djibouti, which is also the gateway to the COMESA or regional common market.

"Because Djibouti is developing major infrastructure and attract more investment, it urgently needs a qualified industrial sites and global support labor.

This is why the local subsidiary of IMI will focus on training and technical assistance, " confirmed our interlocutor. According to Noureddine, the main wealth of a nation without major mining resources like ours, valued for its strategic position, is its human capital.

"We will invest in human resource development so that Djibouti could have in the future qualified men and women, "he added. He also stated that the objective of IMI is to develop the highest level of excellence and integrity in the quality of work and services.

"In addition to being based on those values ​​and performance-oriented, our way of doing business is flexibility and the concomitant responsiveness, "said essentially the IMI boss who plans to open soon the doors of its local subsidiary.

 

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Thematic analysis: Structural transformation and natural resources

 

The most important structural changes in Djibouti between 2004 and 2009 were the result of a massive influx of FDI, which expanded the transport sector and related services. Most of the investment came from the Gulf states, especially Dubai, and focused on capital-intensive sectors: building port, airport and road infrastructure, a free-trade zone, and also real estate and tourism.

 

The biggest investments were by the port operator Dubai Port World, especially the building of an oil terminal at Doraleh in 2006 and a container port in 2009, a luxury hotel (the Kempinski), residential housing and a free-trade zone. The firm also won contracts to manage the airport, sea ports, the oil terminal, the container port and the customs department.

 

These investments increased the importance of transport and logistics in the economy and boosted growth of related sectors such as tourism and construction.

 

Port activity, commerce, haulage and logistics still dominate the tertiary sector, which accounts for 73% of GDP. Transport provides some 15 000 direct and indirect jobs, which is 15% of the working population and which (with the civil service) remains the chief source of employment. These investments have improved the country’s competitiveness in cross-border trade, for which Djibouti ranks 41st in the World Bank report Doing Business 2013 but 171st out of 185 countries overall.

 

Politics also significantly helped the transport sector to expand, as after the 1997-2000 war between Ethiopia and Eritrea, Djibouti became Ethiopia’s main access to the sea.

 

The country has few natural resources and most are not exploited. Energy sources are mostly geothermal and to some extent oil. The government is trying to raise funding for new test bores in 2013 to find and assess geothermal potential. If proven, extraction could start in 2014.

 

Four prospection contracts were signed in September 2011 with Oyster Oil & Gas, but results are not yet available. The country could also benefit from oil extraction in South Sudan with the laying of a pipeline from there and by building a refinery in Djibouti.

 

The country has mineral resources, but most have not been assessed. Vast sediments in the southeast could be mined in 2013 to make cement, and geothermal development could enable extraction of minerals such as zinc.

 

Djibouti also has reserves of diatomite, silica, gypsum, ignimbrite and perlite, which have industrial uses, as well as volcanogenic massive sulphides, which contain high concentrations of both base and precious metals. No studies have yet clearly identified and quantified these deposits.

 

[highlight]The firm Stratex Djibouti is prospecting for gold (in 10 concessions) and first results are promising. A dozen more prospection permits have been requested (but not yet granted), and production could begin in 2013.[/highlight]

 

Salt and fisheries are agricultural raw materials. A concession to mine salt deposits at Lake Assal was granted to a US firm in 2008. Production of an estimated potential of 1.2 million tonnes a year was halted for technical reasons but should resume in 2013 with the arrival of a new investor.

 

Djibouti has 372 kilometres of coastline with large quantities of fish that could provide an annual catch of 50 000 tonnes without hindering natural rebuilding of stocks. Current annual production is between 1 500 and 2 000 tonnes, mainly because small-scale fishing was originally promoted to protect resources and marine life. The sector is entering a new stage with the signing of a contract in October 2012 with an Algerian firm.

 

Development of natural resources has been too small (or nonexistent) to have brought growth-boosting structural change to Djibouti. Such change is emerging, however, with projects to resolve the energy and water constraints and gradual government efforts to develop these resources. The opening of the electricity line from Ethiopia, geothermal power prospects and building a desalination plant should help reduce still very high production costs. The business climate is hampered by small and costly supplies of water, electricity and labour. Apart from production costs, the general running of the country still needs improving to make it more attractive to foreign investors.

(http://www.africaneconomicoutlook.org/)

 

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Oyster Oil Commences Onshore Geophysical Survey in Djibouti

 

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwired - Oct. 9, 2013) - Oyster Oil & Gas Ltd. ("Oyster") (TSX VENTURE:OY) is pleased to announce the commencement of an onshore geophysical survey ("Survey") in the Republic of Djibouti. The Survey is a regional geophysical program covering some 450kms located in the onshore Blocks 1, 2 & 4.

 

Oyster has contracted the Centre d'Etude et de Recherche de Djibouti ("CERD") and Imagir of France to undertake the acquisition and processing of magnetotelluric and gravity survey data. Oyster anticipates that the acquisition and processing will be completed by end of 2013.

 

Dr. Phil Roach, Exploration Consultant commented, "We have been encouraged by our geological and geophysical work in Djibouti and have identified potentially good quality oil source rocks and also good reservoir potential. (read the rest here:The Wall Street Journal)

[Che -Guevara]

Salman. How much this boom trickles down to the people? What's unemployment rate, specially among the youth?

[nuune]

^^ it is very higher, having being there few months back, have seen most parts of Jabuuti, and the poverty is there, one thing though, only the rich one's get richer while the poor stays poor and poorer.

 

Since Jabuuti is a tiny country, with less than one million population, it would be great if they introduce a welfare system that supports people, the government can afford to introduce that system by just using the money the rent they get from America Camp alone.

[Abu-Salman]

Spanish developers in Djibouti for the construction of 40,000 social housing units

Managers of a Spanish construction company, Espaforza SL, are currently staying in Djibouti and talk with several members of the Djiboutian government to build 40,000 social housing due to 5,000 per year in the country.
The CEO of the company Espaforza SL Eduardo Padila, said in a press conference that his company was attracted by the comparative advantages of the Djibouti market economy, as well as tax incentives for investment and economic good health encourage foreign investment in the country.
Mr. Padila also claimed that "the contribution of the firm will be beneficial for the country with significant national economy benefits."
Indeed, the commercial interest of the Spanish businessman is especially linked to the enviable position of Djibouti, which is the gateway to the COMESA regional common market strong with more than 400 million consumers. (http://french.china.org.cn/).

meetings attended by the local representative of Espaforza SL, Mohamed Youssouf, and manager of the Warka Bank in Djibouti, Hichem Ben Turkia.

Ultimate confidence: M.Padilla believes in the ability of Djibouti to meet this challenge, that is to become the regional hub of international trade

[SomaliPhilosopher]

Is there deterioration in Somali language in Djibouti in terms of its quality and use among the newer generations? Is nomadic life in Djibouti still prevalent and to what degree has it been urbanized? Do the 'Somali' Djiboutians engage in clubbing and drinking? How prevalent are dugsis/madrasaas in the city and are they urban in infrastructure ? Do djiboutians claim this 'collective' history and identity of 'africanism', or do they view themselves as exclusive?

[Mad_Mullah]

SomaliPhilosopher;981340 wrote:

Is there deterioration in Somali language in Djibouti in terms of its quality and use among the newer generations? Is nomadic life in Djibouti still prevalent and to what degree has it been urbanized? Do the 'Somali' Djiboutians engage in clubbing and drinking? How prevalent are dugsis/madrasaas in the city and are they urban in infrastructure ? Do djiboutians claim this 'collective' history and identity of 'africanism', or do they view themselves as exclusive?

Every Djibouti youtube video I only see Faaraxs writing in French, I think the educated ones pride themselves in French to distinguish themselves from the poorer people.

[Che -Guevara]

Nuune. What sort of a welfare state?

[nuune]

^^ Shaqa hadeysan jirin, ama aysan dowlada abuuri karin soo iney dadka wax u qorto bil kasta ama siiso ma ahan like raashin or xoogoow lacag ay wixii daruuri ah ku iibsadaan, that would be a dream for an African state, but given that what they receive from those military bases and the ports, then it is reasonable iney dadka danyarta ah u gargaaraan.

[Che -Guevara]

Nuune. You will be creating a culture of dependence. The Government should not be in the business of handing out money, but it can invest perhaps in free health and education which can transform the nation, and create a class that could demand a political change and government that's accountable.