Step 1 – Access to Capital (Advantage)

Step 1 – Access to Capital (Advantage)

Li Wei: “China’s Belt and Road Initiative has brought over $10 billion of loans and direct investment to Ethiopia. This capital is crucial for building infrastructure—railways, highways, and ports—that the Ethiopian government could not fund alone.”

Alem’s Note: The Addis Ababa–Djibouti railway, completed in 2018, cut freight time from 15 days to 3, slashing costs for farmers and manufacturers. Traders like Mekdes, a coffee exporter, now reach international markets faster, earning higher margins.