Metema-Gedariff Road Expected to be opened for Traffic in Mid-MarchAddis Ababa, Feb. 14(ENA)-- The construction of the Metema-Gedariff road, which links Ethiopia with the Sudan was expected to be finalized in mid-March enabling Ethiopia to start using the Port Sudan, the Sudanese Minister of Interior said here on Thursday.

Speaking to journalists after conferring with President Girma Woldegiorgis, Major General Abdul-rehim Mohammed Hussein said the construction of the road would enable to bolster economic cooperation between the two countries.

The minister said his discussions with President Girma  mainly focused on strengthening cooperation between the two countries particularly on customs, security and immigration issues.

President Girma has stressed the need for further consolidating cooperation between the two countries in the fields of trade and other areas, Major General Abdul-rehim said.

Preliminary activities that would enable Ethiopia to use the Port Sudan were being carried out, Major General Abdul-rehim said, adding that 3 million square-meters of land has been reserved for Ethiopia to place containers and other incoming goods via Port Sudan.

Ethiopia would start to use Port Sudan as soon as the construction of the Metema- Gedariff road was completed, he said.

Major General Abdul-Rehim said the visit of the high-level Sudanese delegation to Ethiopia was fruitful as it gave fresh impetus to the implementation of the cooperation agreements signed between the two countries.

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