K Railroad Expands to Africa... Korail Signs MOU with Ethiopia and Botswana

Han Moonhee: "Expanding into Africa, the 'Blue Ocean' of Railways"

KORAIL is accelerating its efforts to pioneer the African railway market.

KORAIL announced on the 9th that it has signed Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) with the Ethiopian Railway Corporation and Botswana Railways to expand cooperation in various fields such as railway operation and workforce training.

Han Moon-hee, President of Korail, is taking a commemorative photo with Hulina Belachu, President of Ethiopian Railways Corporation (ERC), after signing a business agreement on the 4th (local time) in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia. Photo by Korail

Han Moon-hee, President of KORAIL, signed agreements with Hulina Belachu, President of the Ethiopian Railway Corporation (ERC), in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia, on the 4th (local time), and with Kelesile Malele, President of Botswana Railways (BR), in Gaborone, the capital of Botswana, on the 6th.

KORAIL has maintained exchanges with the railway corporations of the two countries since last year. Through this agreement, it plans to promote broad cooperation ranging from railway infrastructure construction to operation and maintenance.

With Ethiopia's ERC, a working group will be formed to enhance mutual understanding of the railway industry in both countries and to develop talent training plans through invitation-based training programs. Additionally, cooperation will be expanded in feasibility studies for new railway construction projects connecting Ethiopia to Kenya, as well as in the operation and maintenance of existing railways.

Han Moon-hee, President of Korail, is taking a commemorative photo after signing a business agreement with Kelesile Malele, President of Botswana Railways (BR), on the 6th (local time) in Gaborone, the capital of Botswana. Photo by Korail

With Botswana's BR, discussions were held on providing consulting services for operation and maintenance to resume passenger railway services that have been suspended since 2020. Going forward, various cooperation opportunities including workforce training will be explored.

President Han said, "Following Tanzania, Egypt, and Morocco, we will continue cooperation to ensure that the technology and operational experience of K-railways can be more widely utilized in the African railway market, which is a 'railway blue ocean.'"