Ethiopia, Djibouti Discuss to Make Cargo Movement Effective

ADDIS ABABA – Berhanu Tsegaye, Ethiopian Ambassador to Djibouti, conferred with Chairman of Djibouti Ports and Free zones to explore ways to improve the efficient and effective movement of cargoes from Ports to Ethiopia.

Berhanu met with Aboubaker Omer Hadi, Chairman of the Djibouti Ports and Free Zones Authority at the Djibouti International Free Trade Zone on Monday.

About 85% of Djibouti’s port activities derived from Ethiopia’s import and export transactions, contributing substantially to Djibouti’s overall economic growth.

Today’s discussion was focused on issues of bilateral importance, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

It was, particularly, focused “on ways to improve the efficient and effective movement of Ethiopia’s cargoes from Djibouti Ports and Free Zones to various parts of Ethiopia.”

The Ministry says the discussion was fruitful.

“Both have underscored the necessity of speeding up the ongoing construction of the Galamo-Molud asphalt road,” it adds.

The road is located in one of the busiest corridor connecting Ethiopia to the ports of Djibouti and currently hosting the lion share of Ethiopia’s seaborne cargo.

Up on completion, authorities expect the road to augment the smooth flow of cargoes across the Ethio-Djibouti corridor.

Ambassador Tsegaye and Hadi also agreed to set up a mechanism that will ensure the timely transportation of Ethiopia’s cargoes from the ports of Djibouti.

The mechanism aims “to reduce cargo dwelling time at the ports, which will have a significant positive impact in terms of lowering service costs”, according to the Foreign Ministry.