Addis Ababa, September 1, 2026 (FMC) — Ethiopia is moving to deepen the integration of maritime and inland cargo operations along the Ethio-Djibouti Corridor, with stronger coordination between key logistics institutions positioned to improve the flow of the country’s import and export trade, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Ambassador Birhanu Tsegaye said.
The MFA State Minister made the remarks at a logistics-focused forum organized jointly by Ethiopian Shipping and Logistics Services and the Ethio-Djibouti Railway, underscoring the strategic importance of closer cooperation between the two institutions to sustain and expand gains in Ethiopia’s logistics sector.
Ambassador Birhanu said the two institutions have a critical role in the national economy and should strengthen their cooperation to maintain the progress already achieved.
He called for sustainable solutions to challenges facing the logistics sector and the adoption of modern logistics approaches to improve service efficiency and customer satisfaction.
The cooperation between the two institutions has already brought significant improvements to Ethiopia’s freight transportation system. During the 2018 Ethiopian fiscal year, around 74 percent of the country’s import and export cargo was transported by rail, according to information presented at the forum.
The two logistics institutions also reaffirmed their commitment to deepening collaboration and increasing the volume of import and export cargo transported along the Ethio-Djibouti Corridor beyond previously planned levels.
They highlighted their shared achievements during the previous fiscal year, when coordinated operations helped connect businesses across diverse cargo categories, facilitating the movement of goods from maritime gateways through inland transport networks and onward into Ethiopia’s hinterland.
The two institutions demonstrated strong carrying capacity and helped streamline cargo flows across both legs of the journey—sea and inland—contributing to a more integrated logistics chain between the Port of Djibouti and destinations inside Ethiopia.
The strengthened logistics connection has helped transform cargo handling at the Port of Djibouti. Goods that previously remained at the port for extended periods can now reach customers more quickly and securely, reducing delays and avoiding unnecessary costs.
The development underscores the strategic importance of an integrated sea-to-hinterland logistics system to Ethiopia’s international trade, particularly given the central role of the Djibouti corridor in connecting the country’s economy to global markets.
The Ethio-Djibouti Railway is also contributing to greener logistics. Operating fully on electricity, the railway provides an environmentally sustainable option for cargo transportation and supports Ethiopia’s efforts to develop cleaner logistics along the corridor.
Ambassador Birhanu emphasized that sustaining these gains will require continued institutional cooperation, persistent efforts to resolve logistical challenges and the adoption of modern logistics practices capable of supporting Ethiopia’s expanding trade.