A recent project involves taking water from one major industrial city, Dire Dawa, which is at a low altitude and has plenty of water, to another, Harar, which is at a high altitude and has no underground water.

The company drilled wells in Dire Dawa and uses pumps to send water to Harar. The $12 million project was partly sponsored by the African Development Bank.

The Ethiopian economy has grown 10 percent a year in recent years, and this is giving the company more opportunities.

"Population growth by far outstrips the development of amenities, and just when infrastructure catches up with public demand for water, industries take off and even more water is needed for them," said Sun.

The company is helping build a dam on the Gibe River on the northwestern outskirts of Addis Ababa to add another 100,000 metric tons of water supply to industries in the city.

Another project high on the company's agenda is a 316-km road from Dessie to Gunde Wyen, two cities separated by the Nile. The $200 million project includes two sections of road on each side of the Nile and a bridge to join them. Construction began in 2006, and the project is due to be completed this year.

Previously, to travel between two big cities of Amare state, Bahir Dar and Dessie, which are separated by a tributary of the Nile, people had to take a big detour through Addis Ababa.

"The new road has cut the distance by two-thirds," said Sun.

The road also makes life easier for farmers. The Nile valley is a major grain production area, and the newly built roads are helping farmers sell their produce quickly in Bahir Dar and Dessie.

Qin Jian, deputy head of mission at the Chinese embassy in Ethiopia, said local residents are familiar with Chinese companies.

"The companies have played a large part in developing infrastructure, which Ethiopians see as ensuring their well-being and sustainable long-term development," said Qin.

"Ethiopia is a typical African market. Here, we don't sell them state-of-art high-tech products, but we build infrastructure and open factories, so they get what they need the most urgently, and this is helping development."

Changing the rules of engagement on infrastructure	Ethiopia expects more Chinese factories