Djibouti —Djibouti’s Minister of Transport, Hassan Hummad Ibrahim, officially launched a new project on May 26, 2025, aimed at improving economic integration in the Horn of Africa. The project is titled “Enhancing Regional Economic Integration in the Horn of Africa through the Djibouti Corridor.”

This project, financed by the European Union with a budget of €32 million, is implemented by the organization TradeMark Africa and forms part of the Horn of Africa Initiative.

The project’s objective is to enhance the efficiency and sustainability of key roads connecting Djibouti and Ethiopia.

A workshop on implementing this plan focused on infrastructure needs at the Galafi and PK51 border points. It was agreed to conduct technical studies to identify the critical needs for improving these border crossings.

The Minister stated that the Galafi border is a strategic and vital point for the transit of goods between Djibouti and Ethiopia. However, it still lacks adequate infrastructure to ensure a secure system facilitating the movement of people, transport, and goods.

“The Galafi road, which is currently in its final phase of rehabilitation, will soon see increased traffic that will revive its role as a crucial commercial route linking Ethiopia.”

Additionally, the Minister emphasized that enhancing competition in traffic corridors is not limited to improving roads and reducing transport costs but also requires modern border facilities and streamlined interconnected procedures.

This new project forms a significant part of Djibouti’s 2035 vision plan, which aims to make Djibouti the largest logistics hub in the Horn of Africa and a regional trade corridor.