East Africa Trade Corridor forum seeking to boost regional trade opens in Addis Ababa
The corridor project includes a road network that links Berbera Port in Somaliland with Ethiopia’s capital. It is expected to support regional trade and reduce reliance on other trade routes that Ethiopia currently uses.
A forum on the East Africa Trade Corridor has officially opened in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The corridor connects the port city of Berbera in Somaliland with Addis Ababa and is considered a key trade route for the Horn of Africa.
The event is being attended by mayors from various Ethiopian regional cities and representatives from cities in Somaliland.
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The main focus of the forum is the development and improvement of infrastructure to facilitate trade and the movement of goods and people between the two regions.
Shaafi Ahmed Macallin, the mayor of Jigjiga in Ethiopia’s Somali Regional State, stated that the corridor is important for Ethiopia and the broader Horn of Africa.
“This route is indeed crucial for the entire Horn of Africa, connecting Ethiopia and Somaliland. It is expected to boost economic cooperation, improve regional integration and strengthen people-to-people ties,” he told the BBC.
According to Mayor Shaafi, the forum provides an opportunity to discuss how to implement the corridor project effectively.
“This conference serves as a platform to discuss studies conducted by universities — especially Jigjiga University — regarding the potential challenges this project might face, as well as the benefits it could bring,” he said.
The corridor project includes a road network that links Berbera Port in Somaliland with Ethiopia’s capital. It is expected to support regional trade and reduce reliance on other trade routes that Ethiopia currently uses.
In 2021, DP World, a Dubai-based logistics company, signed an agreement with Ethiopia’s Ministry of Transport to develop the corridor. The agreement outlined plans for infrastructure investment to support the connection between Berbera and Ethiopia.
DP World announced that it would invest up to $1 billion over ten years to develop the corridor.
The road will be connected to Ethiopia’s modern road system and is expected to strengthen the role of Berbera Port as a regional commercial gateway.
Mayor Shaafi emphasised the importance of ensuring that all cities along the corridor benefit from the project.
“The goal is to work collaboratively to maximize the economic advantages of this corridor by linking the cities it passes through and preparing them for potential future challenges,” he said.
He also commented on the current progress of the road construction.
“The project is progressing and has reached approximately 30 per cent completion. There is hope and confidence that the remaining work will be completed in the near future,” he said.
Ethiopia, which has a population of over 100 million people and is landlocked, depends heavily on access to ports for both imports and exports. For decades, the country has relied mainly on the ports of Djibouti and Sudan. In recent years, the Ethiopian government has taken steps to secure alternative port access in neighbouring countries, aiming to reduce dependency and improve trade security.
Berbera Port, located in Somaliland, is one of the alternatives Ethiopia is pursuing. A 2021 World Bank study published in 2022 ranked Berbera Port 165th globally in terms of port management. It also ranked 171st in capacity among major ports in sub-Saharan Africa.
DP World has undertaken expansion and modernization efforts at Berbera Port. These upgrades are intended to raise its status as a key commercial hub in the region.
The East Africa Trade Corridor is seen as a long-term project with multiple stages. It involves not only road construction but also agreements on customs processes, security, and regional cooperation.
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