Ethiopia, Turkmenistan Agree to Address Challenges Arising from Access to Sea, Strengthen Regional Integration

Addis Ababa, August 6, 2025 (ENA) -- Ethiopia and Turkmenistan have reached an agreement to collaboratively tackle the challenges associated with access to the sea, as well as to enhance regional integration and trade.

Ethiopia’s Minister of Transport and Logistics, Alemu Sime held bilateral discussions with the Minister of Trade and Foreign Economic Relations of Turkmenistan, Nazar Halnazarovich Agahanov, on the margins of  the Third United Nations Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDC3) opened in Awaza, Turkmenistan on Tuesday.

The two officials exchanged views to collaboratively tackle the issues stemming from inequitable maritime access and to enhance their partnership in developing efficient and economical transportation solutions that will aid in expediting trade and fostering economic development.

The Ministers also highlighted the challenges confronting their countries, which encompass high transport coast, total dependence on neighboring ports, and geopolitical instability that interrupts trade routes.

 

On the occasion, Minister Alemu Sime expressed his conviction that this international forum will significantly contribute to transforming this challenge into an opportunity, as being landlocked has historically posed a geographical obstacle that has impeded the development of nations.

Turkmenistan's Minister for his part highlighted that regional integration is essential for realizing the potential of landlocked nations; the answer lies in creating a network of connections that guarantees the seamless movement of goods, services, and ideas throughout their region.

Turkmenistan is committed to building infrastructure and concluding necessary agreements to make this a reality, the Minister added.  

He sees Ethiopia as a key partner in this effort and noted that his country is the gateway to Central Asia, just as Ethiopia is the gateway to Africa.

Finally, the two countries have reached an agreement to enhance their collaboration and lessen their reliance on conventional trade routes, in addition to creating a new trade partnership.