Transport & Logistics

Thanks to Djibouti’s fortuitous positioning between East Africa and the Middle East, on a key trade route between Asia and Europe, the country has long played a central role in regional trading. This has translated into a dynamic transport sector and significant GDP growth rates since the mid-2000s. In order to take its geographic advantages to the next level; however, Djibouti will need to ensure that large-scale investments to upgrade its transportation networks are implemented adequately. The opening of a new railway and road links to the north of Ethiopia will contribute to exchanges with other landlocked countries in East Africa, as well as new ports and facilities that will bring added capacity to freight handling. Although large-scale investment in port infrastructure will be critical, coordination between the building of new maritime commerce infrastructure, and the rest of the inland road and railway networks will be essential for the Djiboutian transport and logistics sector to function properly as an integrated system. This chapter contains interviews with Moussa Ahmed Hassan, Minister of Equipment and Transport; Aboubaker Omar Hadi, Chairman, Djibouti Ports and Free Zones Authority; and Mario Fulgoni, CEO, Air Djibouti.