China in Ethiopia

If you ask Ethiopians what the Chinese are doing in Ethiopia, they will most likely answer that they build roads and buildings. Huge housing projects are being put up around the capital, Addis Ababa, with many contracts given to Chinese state-owned enterprises (SOE's). One major corporation, China Road and Bridge Construction (CRBC), has come under fire from the World Bank after some shady dealings in the Philippines.

One CRBC employee told me that he hated the corruption of Ethiopia -- and Ethiopia is supposed to be better than many other African countries in this regard. Nonetheless, collusion with the local government is often considered necessary to get things done.









"I respect the Chinese because they are willing to do things that other foreigners aren't willing to do." Whereas many Western organizations and corporations in Ethiopia are not willing to get their hands a little dirty, the Chinese seem willing to work alongside the Ethiopians, in poor working conditions, often living in temporary tin shacks put up next to construction sites.

The Chinese have been put in charge of constructing the new African Union building, perhaps a symbolic move of China's growing influence in Africa.

Chinese workers are paid two to three times the amount they would normally make in China. Many Chinese workers have worked in other African countries, such as Angola, Nigeria, the Congo, and Algeria.




Unlike in most other countries, many of the Chinese in Ethiopia were young, educated, single men. In a way, we had a lot in common -- we'd just graduated university, had a thirst for some adventure abroad, and were open-minded to new places.

Perhaps in testament to the excellence of Ethiopian food, many Chinese people remarked that they'd rather eat Ethiopian food, than try to eat Chinese food all the time.