
ADDIS ABABA – The Ministry of Trade and Regional Integration (MoTRI) underscored Ethiopia’s commitment to boosting competitiveness and inclusivity in the African Continental Free Trade Area through the effective implementation of the newly launched ECOTRADE Project.
The ECOTRADE Project, officially launched yesterday by MoTRI in collaboration with the European Union (EU), will be implemented over four years with 6 million euros in funding from the EU. The initiative is being executed in partnership with Expertise France.
Speaking at the launch event, MoTRI Minister Kassahun Goffe emphasized that the ECOTRADE Project marks a strategic step in Ethiopia’s trade integration efforts, aiming to boost the country’s participation and competitiveness within the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) framework.
He noted that Ethiopia’s transformation strategy under the AfCFTA focuses on coordination, monitoring, and efficient fund utilization, with the Ministry having already established an implementation committee and launched an awareness campaign to support these goals.
The goal is to build a competitive, inclusive, and sustainable economy aligned with the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the Minister stated. The ECOTRADE Project will focus on strengthening small and micro enterprises, enhancing regional value chain integration, and modernizing customs procedures.
Minister Kassahun also called on all stakeholders to collaborate in ensuring the success of the initiative, which is designed to create jobs, strengthen institutions, and position Ethiopia as a trade and innovation hub in the region.
The European Union Ambassador to Ethiopia Sofie From-Emmesberger described the project as a milestone in the longstanding partnership between the EU and Ethiopia. She stressed that the initiative places the private sector, particularly SMEs and women-led businesses at its core.
The French Embassy in Ethiopia Chargé d’Affaires Julien Voituriez highlighted that the ECOTRADE Project aligns with France’s broader commitment to support trade integration across Africa. Intra-African trade currently accounts for only 14% of total trade on the continent, he said, underlining the significant potential for regional economic growth.
He also pointed to France’s contributions through Team Europe, including support for the AfCFTA Secretariat and investments in regional projects such as the Djibouti-Ethiopia Corridor, aimed at improving trade connectivity and institutional capacity.
BY ESSEYE MENGISTE
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD SATURDAY 21 JUNE 2025