Ethiopia and Kenya have set to launch a cross-border trade shortly aiming to facilitate a simplified trade regime that will enable communities at the border to get access to essential commodities.
This follows a memorandum of understanding (MoU) the two neighbors signed last April to fast-track the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), Wondimu Filate, Public Relations and Communication Affairs Director at the Ministry of Trade and Regional Integration (MoTRI) told reporters on Monday in a briefing.
“The cross- border trade will take place across their common border covering 50 kilometers within Ethiopian territory and 100 kilometers in the territory of Kenya,” Filate said.
He said livestock animals, dairy products, vegetables, fruits, edible oil, drinks, leather and leather products, foot wear, clothes will be traded at the new cross-border trade area.
The new cross-border trade is expected to significantly unleash business operations, discourage contraband and strengthen peace, security and people to people relations of the two countries.
Ethiopia and Kenya officially signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) last April to enhance collaboration and fast-track the implementation of the AfCFTA under a Simplified Trade Regime (STR).
The agreement aims to boost cross-border trade and foster economic integration between the two neighboring countries.
The bilateral deal was formalized during a high-level meeting in Mombasa, where both governments were represented by senior officials who emphasized the importance of improving trade conditions for communities living along the Kenya-Ethiopia border, particularly in Moyale, where traders have faced persistent challenges.
The agreement marked the culmination of two years of intense negotiations and followed the third bilateral meeting between the two countries on the STR, held in Mombasa, Kenya.
MG/abj/APA