The government of Ethiopia has awarded eight contracts worth $456m to build road links with Sudan, Kenya, Eritrea and Somalia,  New Business Ethiopia. 

Among the routes planned is a northern link between Endasilassie in Tigray province and Eritrea. A road beginning in the western town of Durbete will go to the Sudan. In the south, a highway will be built between Negele Borena in the Oromia Regio, and will link Ethiopia with Kenya and Somalia.

The Ethiopian Roads Authority (ERA) is planning 738km of highways. Seven of the schemes will be financed by the state and the eighth, between the towns of Jimma and Chida in southwest Ethiopia, will be funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency, the African Development Bank and the World Bank.

The ERA said that five of the roads would be built by local construction companies and three by international contractors.

Altogether, the authority has awarded 21 construction projects since July, with a total length of 1,774km and a value of $1.1bn.