China sponsors training program for 35 Train Conductors to work on the Chinese-financed Ethiopia-Djibouti railway (project #30171).

On 26 October 2019, 35 Ethiopian train conductors were sent to Zhengzhou Railway Vocational and Technical College in China for a 6 month training program. These conductors already received one year of training within Ethiopia from Chinese professionals. This training program is being conducted in part to help local Ethiopian staff to completely take over operations of the Ethiopia-Djibouti rail line. The Ethiopian Government hopes to send 35 more conductors for training. According to an article posted from GlobalTimes ("Ethiopian train drivers trained by Chinese to boost capacity-building efforts"), the training had lasted for a total of two and a half years, with one section of training hosted in Ethiopia and another in China, with the training including theoretical training, practical training, physical training, simulated cab training and professional skills competition. Pictures from the graduation ceremony suggest that Chinese state owned company CCECC sponsored the training.

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