THE Ethiopian Industrial Parks Development Corporation (IPDC) has announced that Ethiopia’s first free trade zone, the Dire Dawa Free Trade Zone, is now fully operational. This development is set to attract international manufacturing companies to Ethiopia, strengthening the East African country’s position as a regional trade and logistics hub, according to IPDC’s CEO, Fisseha Yitagesu.
Yitagesu highlighted the Ethiopian government’s collaborative efforts to bring the free trade zone to full capacity, expressing strong commitment to facilitating investment within the zone and supporting prospective businesses.
Inaugurated in August 2022, the Dire Dawa Free Trade Zone is located approximately 445 km east of Ethiopia’s capital, Addis Ababa. Its proximity to Djibouti’s ports provides strategic advantages in logistics and multimodal transport, boosting Ethiopia’s access to international markets.
The free trade zone includes the Dire Dawa Industrial Park, constructed by China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation, as well as a dry port, an international airport, and a station on the Ethiopia-Djibouti railway line, providing seamless connectivity for both import and export businesses.
In a significant infrastructure upgrade last month, the Ethio-Djibouti Standard Gauge Railway Share Company (EDR) announced the successful integration of the Ethiopia-Djibouti railway line with the Dire Dawa Free Trade Zone. EDR’s CEO, Takele Uma, noted that this connection is set to streamline trade between Ethiopia and Djibouti, facilitating faster and more efficient movement of goods and boosting regional commerce.
With this comprehensive infrastructure in place, the Dire Dawa Free Trade Zone is poised to enhance Ethiopia’s trade landscape, attracting global investments and expanding its role in regional supply chains.
