Dire Dawa Dry Port and Terminal, which was built at a cost of USD 68 million on 34.1 hectares of land, commenced services on Thursday. The dry port has a capacity to handle 128,000 containers annually when it becomes fully operational and is expected to reduce foreign currency expenditures.
Industrial Parks Development Corporation (IPDC) has officially announced that the Dire Dawa Free Trade Zone is now fully operational.
Dire Dawa Free Trade Zone was launched on Sunday by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. The free trade zone was established as part of Ethiopia’s 10 years development plan, it was learnt.
It is reported that Dire Dawa’s proximity to ports, market potential, and sustainability for multimodal transportation and logistics operation has made it preferrable for Ethiopia’s first free trade zone. According to the Ethiopian Maritime Affairs Authority, additional free trade zones will be established in other parts of the country.
Dire Dawa Free Trade Zone will become fully operational in the coming two months. The zone has also announced that it had made preparations to welcome investors who would build hotels, apartments, and warehouses.
Dire Dawa, is on track to become a major industrial and commercial center, according to the Trade, Industry, and Investment Bureau of the city.
