Addis Ababa, May 11, 2025 (FMC) — The Ethio-Djibouti Railway (EDR) S.C. has introduced new procedures aimed at strengthening its logistics capacity and delivering integrated services to manufacturers operating within Ethiopia’s special economic zones (SEZs).
The announcement was made during a consultation forum organized by the company to introduce its expanded services and engage with stakeholders from various industrial parks.
Speaking to Fana Digital, EDR’s Global Logistics Director, Mentesnot Yohannes, said the discussions focused on streamlining logistics processes to better meet the needs of manufacturers.
Manufacturers in attendance expressed concerns over delays in receiving industrial inputs and exporting finished goods to international markets, noting that these issues were undermining their competitiveness. They called for faster and more efficient logistics solutions.
Addressing the forum, EDR CEO Engineer Takele Uma stated that the railway is working to broaden its service offerings, particularly for high-volume exporters.
He also announced plans to improve supply chain efficiency by establishing permanent EDR offices in selected industrial parks.
Meanwhile, Ms. Mentesnot added that EDR has increased both the number of cargo trains and the frequency of daily services, enabling the company to provide on-demand logistics support to manufacturers in industrial zones.
In a further effort to improve service for exporters, EDR has expanded its cargo capacity for key export commodities such as coffee, pulses, and oilseeds. Mentesnot noted that the company has responded to stakeholder requests by eliminating the additional fee that was previously charged for shipments exceeding 20 tons.
Under the revised policy, exporters can now ship up to 25 tons of these products without incurring extra charges. However, shipments exceeding 25 tons will be subject to additional fees beyond the base rate applied to 20 tons.