On 9 December 2020, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and President Uhuru Kenyatta had opened the Moyale one-stop border post (OSBP) aimed at boosting economic ties between Ethiopia and Kenya.
The border post is part of the planned Mombasa-Nairobi-Addis Ababa corridor linked by the 502-kilometre Hawassa-Moyale road project in Ethiopia, and the Isiolo-Moyale road in Kenya.
Prime Minister Abiy said on the occasion that the inauguration of the OSBP demonstrates the commitment of the two neighboring countries to enhance trade and other economic and social ties.
“Realizing single-post trade services of countries, revenue and customs authorities, immigration, security, trade plus many other services demonstrates the capacity for enabling economic transformation,” he added.
“By aligning the working days and hours, procedures and formalities as well as through the development and sharing of common facilities and joint controls, the border post will reduce the time it takes and costs incurred to clear good across both borders,” he said.
Abiy’s visit is also expected to focus on the shared border between the two countries and the Lamu Port-South Sudan-Ethiopia-Transport (Lapsset) corridor.
The Ethiopia-Kenyan border straddles over 830km of its territory, yet has only one OSBP in Moyale, Marsabit.
An OSBP is a border crossing point where migration officials of both countries operate under one roof to facilitate trade and ease the movement of goods and people.
It was hoped that the border post would be commissioned last year after construction was completed in 2018 at a cost of over 7.1 million USD, but due to tensions at the border, this was postponed.
Launched in 2012, Lapsset will also include an oil pipeline that would run from the Kenyan port of Lamu to Addis Ababa, among other major infrastructure projects aimed at improving connectivity and boosting bilateral trade in the region.
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed who is in the country has commissioned the Moyale One-Stop Border Post in Marsabit County, and the 500-kilometer Hawassa-Hagere Mariam-Moyale Road.
He was joined by President Uhuru Kenyatta who received him in Moyale, Marsabit County on Wednesday.
Speaking at the launch, Abiy said that the project was possible because of the unity between the two countries.
“We are one people, one country. This new infrastructure will help the two countries in terms of business, trade and tourism,” he said.
Abiy was on two-day long official visit to Kenya, aimed at increasing the volume of trade between the two countries whilst tightening their friendship.
He was received by President Uhuru at the border post which will ease immigration and customs clearance.
He is also expected to inspect the new Lamu Port in Lamu County, an anchor project of the Lamu Port-South Sudan-Ethiopia-Transport (Lapsset) corridor.
The two leaders have in the past met on several occasions in their respective countries to discuss on trade or mark celebratory events.
Abiy’s visit to Kenya also happens to be his first foreign trip since he announced the completion of a military operation in the Tigray region.
The Ethiopian Herald December 12/2020
