ADDIS ABABA, Dec. 13 (Xinhua) -- The Ethiopian Roads Authority (ERA) on Thursday signed four road projects agreements worth 244 million U.S. dollars in total with four Chinese firms.

The roads, 290.5 kilometers in total, are expected to be constructed in the central, northern, eastern and western parts of the country.

China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC), Zhejiang Bayong Highway Engineering Co. Ltd, Hebei Construction Group Corporation Limited and Beijing Urban Construction Group will build the four road projects.

Li Zhiyuan, General Manager of CCECC Ethiopia, told Xinhua that his company will construct a 103.26-km asphalt road project that is expected to be completed in three years.

The road project is expected to partially alleviate transportation problems in Somali regional state, located in the eastern part of the country.

"This road project starts from Jijiga, capital of Somali regional state to the Dire Dawa city. It's a good corridor that links the Somali regional state with the rest of Ethiopia," he said.

Samson Mamo, ERA's public relations head, said Chinese firms are greatly contributing to Ethiopia's rapid economic growth over the past decade.

"Chinese road construction firms have extensively involved themselves in road projects that have contributed greatly to Ethiopia's economic development efforts," Mamo told Xinhua.

"Regarding achieving our plans on road sector, Chinese contractors play a big role. They also contribute in technology transfer to local staff," he said. Enditem

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