Egypt is set to participate in the construction of new port and logistics facilities in Djibouti, a crucial hub for Ethiopian international trade.
This initiative is expected to be finalized during an upcoming visit by Egypt’s Deputy Prime Minister to Djibouti, known for its advanced logistics infrastructure.
The groundwork for this collaboration was established during a meeting on November 3rd between an Egyptian delegation, led by Mohamed Fathy Moussa, and Aboubaker Omar Hadi, Chairman of the Djibouti Ports and Free Zones Authority (DPFZA).
Their discussions focused on preparations for the official visit of Kamel El-Wazir, Egypt’s Deputy Prime Minister for Industrial Development, scheduled for the coming weeks.
They also covered the main points of an agreement to be signed during the visit, which will address several strategic projects.
A key initiative includes developing a 20MW solar park to transform the SGTD Port, the modern container terminal in the region, into a fully green port.
Additionally, a 10-hectare logistics zone will be created to promote Egyptian exports to regional markets under CIF Djibouti terms.
Another significant project involves constructing a new container terminal featuring a 1,450-meter quay, an 18-meter depth, and an annual capacity of 5 million TEUs.
The DPFZA stated that these projects will collectively enhance Djibouti’s status as a leading maritime and logistics hub in the region.
This development comes as neighboring Ethiopia seeks to regain direct access to the sea, having been landlocked since Eritrea’s independence over three decades ago.
The issue of sea access has long been a key point of contention in political debates among Ethiopian opposition parties and the former ruling party, the EPRDF.
The EPRDF played a crucial role in the 1993 Eritrean referendum, which it conducted in collaboration with the Eritrean People’s Liberation Front (EPLF).
