Logistics organizations from Ethiopia and Djibouti have held a meeting in Addis Ababa to discuss enhancing their collaboration to improve trade between the two nations. Ethiopia, being the most populous landlocked country, heavily relies on Djibouti for access to international markets.
Anteneh Alemu, the CEO of Pave Logistics and Trading PLC and Vice President of the Ethiopian Freight Forwarder and Shipping Agents Association (EFFSAA), emphasized the importance of strengthening ties with the Association of Djiboutian Freight Forwarders (ATD) to boost the efficiency of the logistics industry.
During the meeting on October 17, EFFSAA engaged in discussions with ATD representatives, including President Robleh Mohamed Barreh and Secretary General Robleh Abdillahi Abdi. The majority of Ethiopian freight forwarding companies work in partnership with Djiboutian counterparts for the transportation of Ethiopian goods.
Historically, logistics companies from both nations operated independently, handling procedural changes or tariff updates without coordination. However, the Vice President of EFFSAA noted that the two sides have now agreed to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to foster collaboration, transparency, and trust in their business operations.
“This kind of cooperation will not only enhance the spirit of partnership but also ensure a more transparent and trustworthy business environment,” said Anteneh.
With EFFSAA’s establishment in 1998, the association has worked to support the Ethiopian logistics industry. Going forward, they plan to share their experience in capacity building and training with their Djiboutian counterparts at ATD, which represents about 89 freight forwarders in Djibouti’s logistics sector.
Both organizations aim to work closely, ensuring smoother cargo transportation between Ethiopia and Djibouti. Anteneh highlighted that the MoU between the two parties is expected to be signed soon, marking a new phase of cooperation in the logistics industry.
The formal agreement will help streamline communication and establish a platform for both sides to share updates on regulations and logistics processes, leading to greater efficiency and reliability in cross-border tra