Challenges and Prospects of Applying Multi Modal Transportation System in Ethiopia: A Case Study in Ethiopian Shipping and Logistics Service Enterprise

This research was designed to investigate challenges and prospects of applying multimodal transport system in Ethiopia; the case of Ethiopian shipping and logistics service enterprise. The study used exploratory research design.  Primary data were collected through, semi-structured interview and questionnaire. In order to select the respondents, the study used a non-probability sampling method and specifically purposive for collecting data from employees of targeted enterprise and convenience sampling for data to be collected from clients. Accordingly, 71 sample respondents were selected and out of 71 sample respondents’, data were obtained from fifty of them using questionnaire and from the rest twenty one the required data using interview questionnaire personally. Qualitative content analysis technique is mainly employed for data analysis and in particular the directed content analysis approach is adopted. The finding of the study reveals that the major challenges in the MMT system is absence of integrated ICT, shortage of qualified logistics personnel, absence of enabling environment and custom facilitation. However, the finding identified future Rail road construction; technological development; rate of fast economic growth of the country; Political stability; current and future programs of improvement in the infrastructure as prospects for the improvement of multimodal transport system implementation. The researcher recommends, the enterprise could focus on challenges and prospects identified in this research to make use the findings of this research. Moreover, since this is an exploratory research it may be necessary in the future to conduct in depth study to determine the exact cause and effect relationships of the factors that impact on multimodal transport system. Keywords: Multimodal transportation system, ESLSE