DPFZA and Kenyan Officials Discuss Trade Corridor and AfCFTA Synergies

The Chairman received on Thursday afternoon at Red Sea World, a delegation led by H.E. Mr. George N. McGoye, Ambassador of the Republic of Kenya. 

The meeting was held in a spirit of regional cooperation and enhanced economic exchanges. Discussions focused primarily on the road linking Djibouti to Kenya, Uganda,Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, and Somalia. 

This ambitious infrastructure project is fully in line with the regional integration dynamic and aims to strengthen trade, logistical connectivity, and mobility among the countries of the Horn of Africa. The meeting also provided a chance to discuss the opportunities offered by the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), a landmark agreement for intra-African trade. 

Both parties emphasized the importance of this initiative in removing trade barriers, facilitating the free movement of goods and services, and boosting cross-border investment. 
The Chairman emphasized the urgency of removing physical barriers to trade, calling for greater coordination among African nations to ensure seamless movement of goods across borders. 

He stated: “There is no competition among maritime ports and corridors along the East African coast. 
From Port Sudan and Djibouti to Mombasa, spanning over 7,000 miles of coastline, we have only three deep-sea ports.” 

Mr. Omar Hadi reminded the importance of direct flights between Djibouti and Kenya via Air Djibouti and Kenya Airways in order to enhance air connectivity. 
This will not only boost people-to-people exchanges but also serve as a catalyst for deeper economic cooperation between the two nations.