The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that Ethiopia and Djibouti are exerting efforts to further consolidate the existing bilateral relationship to economic integration. In a two days meeting which started on June 21 and which is held in Addis Ababa, the two countries tried to pinpoint and evaluate their achievements and failures in the process of creating economic integration. Reinforcing cross-border infrastructures, increases in the volume of trade, and consolidating the people to people relation are among other issues they picked up during the discussion.

Ambassador Mohamud Dirir, IGAD Affairs Director at the Ministry, said common geography, history, languages, culture and social values are shared between the people of Ethiopia and Djibouti at the opening of Ethio-Djibouti Experts’ Meeting. The director also noted that the two countries enjoy economic political and social cooperation. He added that Ethiopia was eager to expedite its relations with Djibouti, a country which has long standing tie of friendliness, understanding, and cooperation and that Ethiopia attached special importance to this relationship with Djibouti. Ambassador Mohamud said “The process of cooperation we have embarked on between our countries proceeds beyond anybody’s expectations, both countries are interested to widen and expand their cooperation virtually in all areas.”

Earlier in April, Ethiopian prime minister had met and discussed with the president of Djibouti, Ismail Omar Guelleh, on expediting economic integration.

According to the director, Ambassador Mohamud Dirir, the two countries agreed to advance economic integration by overcoming all the obstacles. He stressed that “Djibouti attaches greater importance to the excellent political relations it enjoys with Ethiopia, there is no partner like Ethiopia for Djibouti and we are really committed to pursue this partnership in all areas and ready to deepen it,” he stressed.”

The first joint Ethio-Djibouti Experts’ Meeting was held in December 2016 in Djibouti.