Ethiopia and Djibouti have agreed to establish a joint committee to enhance the port and customs services in order to speed up transportation of commodities to Ethiopia. The committee will be made up of experts drawn from the revenues and customs, transport, maritime and logistics services of both countries.

Ethiopia’s Director of Ethiopia’s Revenues and Customs Authority, Beker Shale, said the establishment of the committee was part of the efforts of the two countries to get rid of unnecessary procedures which have led to the congestion of goods at the port of Djibouti. Various measures taken earlier to improve the process, including the opening of an office by the Ethiopian Revenues and Customs Authority in Djibouti and the establishment of a joint customs and border committee, had not had the desired results.

The new committee will be searching ways to move Ethiopia’s import and export commodities quickly through the port. Djibouti Ports and Free Zones Authority Manager, Aboubaker Omar Hadi, said the joint committee would help to enhance fast movement of goods and reduce congestion at the ports.

Source: Ethiopia.gov.et