Ethiopia Calls for Accelerated Financing of Regional Corridors at Horn of Africa Initiative Meeting

Addis Ababa, April 17, 2026 (FMC) — Ethiopia has called for faster and more coordinated financing of regional transport corridors, emphasizing their central role in driving trade and economic integration across the Horn of Africa.

Minister of Finance Ahmed Shide made the appeal at the 28th Ministerial Meeting of the Horn of Africa Initiative (HoAI), held on the sidelines of the 2026 World Bank–IMF Spring Meetings in Washington.

The Minister underscored that efficient regional connectivity is essential for Ethiopia’s economic development, noting that trade for a country of more than 130 million people depends heavily on reliable cross-border transport systems.

He stressed that accelerated investment in economic corridors is critical to enhancing competitiveness, unlocking trade potential, and expanding job creation across the region.

The meeting reviewed progress on four priority corridors covering more than 9,100 kilometers, with planned investments estimated at 3.8 billion U.S. dollars. Development partners have mobilized about 2.7 billion dollars since 2019 to support corridor development.

However, participants noted that financing gaps persist in key segments required to achieve full regional connectivity.

Discussions focused on scaling up investment and exploring innovative financing mechanisms to accelerate implementation of corridor projects.

The meeting concluded with a renewed call for coordinated action to close remaining financing gaps and fast-track high-impact infrastructure projects aimed at unlocking the region’s economic potential.