Strengthening India-Djibouti Trade Ties: Ambassador Keivom Meets Chairman Hadi

Yesterday, the Chairman received His Excellency Mr. Malsawmthang Keivom, Ambassador of India, at Red Sea World.

Discussions centered on leveraging Djibouti's position as a regional hub to enhance India/Djibouti’s commercial activities in the region. A major focus was the prepositioning of Indian goods within the Djibouti International Free Trade Zone (DIFTZ) under the Cost, Insurance, and Freight (CIF) model. This model offers Indian businesses expedited access to regional markets and the opportunity to benefit from Djibouti's business climate.

The Chairman emphasized Djibouti's "Sea-Air Cargo Initiative," launched in 2022, which connects 28 cities across 25 African countries. This multimodal transportation network ensures timely and cost-effective delivery of goods. A key route in this initiative includes the Mundra Port, an important link in facilitating trade flows, with a sailing time of 6 days.

The Ambassador expressed interest in acquiring 2 to 4 square kilometers of land within DIFTZ to strengthen India's trade presence further. Establishing factories within DIFTZ would allow India to benefit from the African Continental Free Trade Area agreements (AfCFTA). Currently, 44 Indian companies are already operational in the DIFTZ, leveraging its world-class infrastructure and access to the COMESA market.

At the end of the meeting, the Ambassador requested a visit to Ali Fareyn, the production site of the incense presented as a gift by the Chairman.