Ethiopia Reaffirms Commitment to Regional Integration at HoAI Ministerial Meeting

Addis Ababa, September 28, 2026 (ENA) —Ethiopia has reinforced its dedication to deepening regional integration, trade facilitation, and energy cooperation through the Horn of Africa Initiative (HoAI) during a high-level ministerial meeting in Nairobi.

Gathering finance ministers from across the region alongside senior development partners, Monday's HoAI Ministerial Meeting served as a platform to advance joint economic cooperation and align on shared development priorities.

Addressing the meeting virtually, Ethiopia’s Minister of Finance, Ahmed Shide, spotlighted the nation's key milestones in advancing regional integration.

He pointed to the Ethio-Djibouti Refined Petroleum Products Pipeline as a vital project set to bolster energy security and significantly cut logistics costs.

According to a press release sent to ENA, the minister also underscored Ethiopia’s leadership through its chairmanship of the Eastern Africa Power Pool Council of Ministers, alongside the full operationalization of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD).

 

He also noted that developments will substantially strengthen the country's contribution to clean energy across the region.

According to him, the meeting placed particular emphasis on trade facilitation and regional energy integration.

He expressed Ethiopia’s support for the outcomes of the Trade Ministers’ Meeting held in Addis Ababa on September 3, including the establishment of a Regional Trade Facilitation Committee.

The minister also welcomed findings from a regional energy study and monitoring exercise that identified key barriers to regional integration and indicated that Ethiopia is largely on track in advancing its commitments.

As climate related shocks intensify across the region, Ahmed underscored the importance of strengthening resilience.

He noted that projects under HoAI Pillar 3 are helping countries shift from emergency responses towards longer term approaches to resilience and development.

The minister also welcomed the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA) as a new HoAI partner, recognizing its longstanding support for infrastructure development in Ethiopia.

 

The participating ministers concluded the meeting by reaffirming trade as a regional priority and emphasizing the need for continued technical discussions among member countries to advance integration initiatives.

Launched in 2019, the Horn of Africa Initiative provides a platform for countries in the region and development partners to promote regional integration, economic cooperation and joint responses to shared development challenges.