The U.S. Government donated state-of-art screening machines worth of approximately $1.5 million to enhance the safety of millions of travelers and to detect not only potentially hazardous items, but contraband, such as drugs and illicit wildlife products, as well.
ADDIS ABABA (Semonegna.com)– The U.S. government has donated the ultramodern screening devices, worth of approximately $1.5 million, to Ethiopian Airlines, the Ethiopian News Agency as well as the U.S. Embassy in Addis Ababa reported.
The state-of-art screening machines will enhance the safety and security of Ethiopian Airlines‘ passengers.
U. S. Ambassador to Ethiopia Michael Raynor said the new technology is the first deployment in Africa that will enhance Ethiopian’s ability to detect not only potential hazardous items but contraband items such as drugs and illicit wild animal products as well.
“Today we’re celebrating the installation of state-of-the-art equipment that will enhance the safety of millions of travelers who either visit Ethiopia or transit this important hub every year,” he said.
The airlines’ rapid growth comes with enormous benefit in terms of trade, tourism and investment opportunities not just in Ethiopia but in the U.S. and beyond, Michael Raynor elaborated.
“This growing connectivity opens a door for prosperity because we all know that we can’t have sustainable prosperity without security,” he stressed.
Ethiopian Group Chief Executive Officer, Tewolde Gebremariam said the new device will facilitate the security screening of baggage and passengers.
Ato Tewolde added that Ethiopian Airlines has been very safe in terms of security with the support of US Transportation Security Administration and the national security agency of Ethiopia.
According to the U.S. Embassy, Ethiopian Airlines is the first in Africa to deploy this ultramodern baggage scanning technology.