Nairobi:Ethiopia has reiterated its commitment to enhancing regional integration, trade facilitation, and energy cooperation through the Horn of Africa Initiative (HoAI) during a high-level ministerial meeting held in Nairobi.According to Ethiopian News Agency, the meeting brought together finance ministers from the region and senior development partners, aiming to advance economic cooperation and align on shared development priorities. Ethiopia's Minister of Finance, Ahmed Shide, addressed the meeting virtually, highlighting key milestones in regional integration, including the Ethio-Djibouti Refined Petroleum Products Pipeline, which is expected to enhance energy security and reduce logistics costs.Shide emphasized Ethiopia's leadership role through its chairmanship of the Eastern Africa Power Pool Council of Ministers and the operationalization of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), which will boost clean energy contributions in the region. The meeting focused on trade facilitation and regional energy integration, with Ethiopia supporting the outcomes of the Trade Ministers' Meeting held in Addis Ababa on September 3, which led to the establishment of a Regional Trade Facilitation Committee.The minister also welcomed insights from a regional energy study identifying barriers to integration and noted that Ethiopia is progressing well in its commitments. In light of increasing climate-related shocks, Shide stressed the importance of resilience projects under HoAI Pillar 3, which aim to shift countries from emergency responses to long-term resilience and development strategies.Additionally, Shide acknowledged the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA) as a new HoAI partner, recognizing its role in supporting infrastructure development in Ethiopia. The ministers concluded by reaffirming trade as a regional priority and underscoring the need for ongoing technical discussions to advance integration initiatives. Established in 2019, the Horn of Africa Initiative serves as a platform for r egional countries and development partners to promote integration, cooperation, and joint responses to shared challenges.
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