Ethiopia to Set up First Free Trade Area in Dire Dawa

July 04,2022 (ENA) The Ministry of Transport and Logistics disclosed that Ethiopia planned to establish the first free trade area in the Dire Dawa City Administration.

Briefing Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO Mesfin Tassew, Transport and Logistics Minister Dagmawit Moges said Ethiopia has planned to establish the first free trade area in Dire Dawa.

She said detailed work plan has been prepared and repeated discussions held to realize the free trade area stating that the areas of focus in Dire Dawa free trade area are general trade activities, comprehensive logistics services and import-export of the manufacturing sector.

According to her, Ethiopia planned to establish several free trade areas and establishing and implementing the first in Dire Dawa is considered necessary and beneficial.

Establishing free trade area in Ethiopia is considered beneficial and necessary solution proposed in the National Logistics Strategy under implementation.

A study group consisting of various government institutions has carried out preliminary feasibility study on the benefits of establishing free trade area for the country, Dagmawit explained.  

Ethiopian Airlines can play its role in the establishments of free trade areas using its long experience in cargo, logistics and management, it was indicated.

Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO, Mesfin Tassew said Ethiopian Airlines Group has a wealth of experience in cargo and logistics.

Mesfin added that it will play a critical role to the free trade areas urging the need to strengthen and expand the free trade areas benchmarking best experiences of successful countries.  

The officials finally visited the cargo and logistics center, and the maintenance center of the Ethiopian Airlines Group.