Connectivity is all about Trade “Chairman addresses Global Transport challenges"

The Global Transport Connectivity Forum 2025 concluded today in Istanbul, providing an opportunity to reflect on the key intervention of our Chairman.

He underscored how geopolitics is disrupting trade at critical chokepoints—Bosphorus, Suez Canal, Bab el-Mandeb, and Hormuz—highlighting the unprecedented quietness of the Bosphorus Strait over the past two decades. He also pointed out that climate change significantly impacts global trade, as demonstrated by the drying up of the Panama Canal, which hampers movements between the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans.

Chairman emphasized Djibouti’s strategic advantage, located outside these chokepoints, and its investments in Malaccamax STS cranes designed to handle Ultra Large Container Vessels (ULCVs).

He concluded his panel intervention by stressing that trade faces both physical and non-physical barriers, noting that the latter can be effectively addressed through multilateral cooperation. " Connectivity is all about trade".

On the sidelines of the forum, Chairman held a fruitful meeting with Mr. Suleyman Tiryakioglu, CEO of the Tiryaki Group. During the meeting, Mr. Tiryakioglu expressed strong interest in establishing a logistics hub at the Port of Ghoubet and developing a new transport corridor RN8 linking Ghoubet to Galafi for 2 million tons imports, in addition to the export of salt and perlite, Djibouti natural mineral resource of 10 million tons.