Momentum is building for a new phase of regional trade integration in the Horn of Africa.
A delegation comprising experts from the Horn of Africa Initiative (HoAI) Secretariat, officials from GIZ, Anja Pauls of the German Embassy, GIZ Technical Advisors, national advisors from Somalia and Djibouti, and regional trade specialists held high-level consultations with Ethiopia’s Minister of Finance, Ahmed Shide, and the State Minister for Trade Integration and Export Promotion, Tazer Gebregziabher. The meetings focused on the ongoing revision of the HoAI Regional Trade Facilitation Roadmap and preparations for the Horn of Africa Initiative Trade Ministers’ Meeting scheduled for September 2026.
The consultations provided an opportunity to take stock of progress achieved through national stakeholder engagements across the region and to discuss the strategic priorities that will shape the next generation of trade facilitation reforms. At the heart of the discussions was a shared recognition that deeper regional integration, more efficient trade corridors, and stronger institutional cooperation are becoming increasingly critical to the region’s economic future.
The dialogue will continue tomorrow in Addis Ababa, where a broad-based roundtable will convene representatives from government institutions, the private sector, development partners, and other key stakeholders. The event will serve as a platform for Ethiopian stakeholders to provide inputs and recommendations on the revised Regional Trade Facilitation Roadmap before it is presented to Trade Ministers from across the Horn of Africa.
Both Minister Ahmed Shide and State Minister Tazer Gebregziabher voiced strong support for the process and reaffirmed Ethiopia’s commitment to advancing the regional integration agenda under the Horn of Africa Initiative. They underscored the importance of maintaining reform momentum, accelerating trade facilitation measures, and strengthening cross-border economic linkages as essential foundations for enhancing competitiveness, attracting investment, and unlocking shared prosperity across the region.
As the Horn of Africa continues to deepen economic cooperation, the revised roadmap is expected to provide a renewed framework for transforming trade corridors into engines of regional connectivity, growth, and resilience.