Washington is competing with other major powers for infrastructure and investment influence in Africa.
Ethiopia is building what is set to be the largest airport in Africa’s history. The United States says it wants to participate in this mega project. So, why does the US want to get involved?
Work on the four-runway Bishoftu International Airport, located about 45 km southeast of Addis Ababa, started in January, attracting global attention.
It is a project of the country’s national carrier, Ethiopian Airlines and is expected to cost $12.5 billion.
Amid a scramble for partnerships, US Deputy Assistant Secretary of Commerce for the Middle East and Africa Mark Mitchell said Washington was "closely engaged’’ in pushing to secure its participation in the project.
Investment influence
Mitchell made the remarks on Wednesday, 29 July, during a virtual press briefing from the Africa Logistics and Communications Symposium in Addis Ababa.
He did not disclose the specific role US companies could play in the project, but said it could lead to delivery of "more Boeing aircraft powered by GE Aerospace engines".
This comes as Washington competes with other major powers for infrastructure and investment influence in Africa.
In January, Ethiopian Airlines’ Infrastructure Development and Planning Director Abraham Tesfaye told reporters that "lenders from Middle East, Europe, China and USA have shown strong interest to finance the project."
The African Development Bank has also pledged $500 million and is leading efforts to raise $8.7 billion.
How significant is the airport project?
Well, Ethiopian officials say the Bishoftu International Airport will have space to park 270 planes and capacity for 110 million passengers a year when it is completed in 2030.
Its planned capacity is more than four times that of Ethiopia's current main airport in Addis Ababa, which officials say will reach its limits on existing traffic in the next two to three years.
‘Largest in history’
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said in January that the new airport ‘’will be the largest aviation infrastructure project in Africa's history.’’
Africa’s two largest airports by passenger numbers currently, Egypt’s Cairo International Airport and South Africa’s O.R. Tambo International Airport, each handle around 30 million passengers a year.
Ethiopian Airlines, Africa's biggest carrier, agreed in April to buy six more Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners in addition to 20 jets already ordered. Its annual revenues for 2025/26 rose by 20% to reach $9.1 billion.
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