Gulf Ingot Multimodal, one of six newly licensed multimodal operators, has announced that it will soon commence operations.
As one of only two privately owned multimodal operators, the company brings over two decades of logistics and industrial experience in East Africa and the UAE.
On Friday, May 2, Gulf Ingot celebrated the acquisition of its license—a significant milestone achieved just weeks after the government ended a 15-year monopoly held by the state-owned Ethiopian Shipping and Logistics (ESL) by licensing six additional operators.
Mitiku Asmare, the project manager overseeing the company’s launch, informed Capital that Gulf Ingot is well-prepared to begin operations.
“We have extensive experience in the sector, and while multimodal transport operations (MTO), which integrate various logistics services from port to final destination, are our focus, we are making final preparations to officially start,” he said.
He highlighted the company’s global presence as a key advantage in accelerating its MTO services.
“We have branches in Djibouti, Russia, Turkey, and the UAE, where we have been actively operating for the past 20 years,” Mitiku explained.
Previously the head of the Addis Ababa Transport Bureau, Mitiku added, “Our goal is to become a leader in East Africa’s MTO sector, with a primary focus on the Ethiopia-Djibouti trade corridor.”
To strengthen its operations, the company has established a presence in Dire Dawa, a major commercial hub near the Djibouti border, as well as in Addis Ababa.
According to Mitiku, Gulf Ingot collaborates with nine sister companies to deliver seamless multimodal services.
“We are constructing a five-hectare dry port in Dire Dawa and operate a transport fleet of over 350 trucks, along with warehouse facilities,” he stated. “Additionally, we handle critical documentation processes to ensure smooth operations, which are vital in logistics.”
While the company owns vessels, it will operate as a non-vessel operating common carrier (NVOCC) for global imports, except from China and the UAE, which remain exclusive markets for ESL.
Notably, China and the UAE account for over 60% of Ethiopia’s import cargo, and ESL, the continent’s sole deep-sea vessel operator, retains exclusive MTO rights for these routes.
Multimodal transport, which integrates land, sea, and air logistics, has been Ethiopia’s primary import method since 2011. This is the first time the sector has been opened to competitors beyond ESL.
The six newly licensed operators are Gulf Ingot, Panafric Global, Tikur Abay Transport, Cosmos MTO, Ethio-Djibouti Railway Standard Gauge Share Company (EDR), and Ethiopian Railway Corporation (ERC).
While ERC and Tikur Abay Transport are owned by the central government and the Amhara region, respectively, EDR is a joint venture between the Ethiopian and Djibouti governments, operating a railway network connecting Djibouti and Addis Ababa.
Cosmos MTO is a joint venture between the Oromia region’s Geda Transport and the well-known logistics provider Tradepath International.
Another privately held firm, Panafric Global, has strengthened its position by collaborating with renowned businessman Belayneh Kinde and has also been a notable player in the logistics industry for the past thirty years, similar to Tradepath.
