Horn of Africa Countries Establish Regional Trade Facilitation Committee

GOOBJOOG NEWS|MOGADISHU: Trade ministers from countries participating in the Horn of Africa Initiative (HoAI) have signed a joint declaration establishing the Horn of Africa Regional Trade Facilitation Committee (RTFC), aimed at easing regional trade and the movement of goods across borders.

The decision was reached during the platform’s first ministerial trade meeting, chaired by the Federal Government of Somalia. Trade ministers from Somalia, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya and South Sudan attended the meeting.

The member states also approved the Regional Trade Facilitation Action Plan for 2026–2031 and agreed on a 45-day timetable to operationalise the new committee and hold its inaugural meeting.

The committee will coordinate the work of national trade facilitation committees and help reduce barriers affecting cross-border trade and the movement of goods.

Somalia’s Minister of Commerce and Industry, Ambassador Jamal Mohamed Hassan, who chaired the meeting, said the agreement’s success would be measured by tangible benefits for businesses and communities across the region.

“Today, we have established a common direction, an implementation mechanism and a clear timetable. What is now expected of us is to translate this political commitment into results that businesses and the people of the region can see,” Minister Jamal said.

Member states are required to nominate their representatives to the new committee by September 30, 2026.

The committee’s establishment is considered an important step towards accelerating trade in the Horn of Africa and reducing the time and costs associated with goods being delayed at border crossings. It is also expected to create new trade and investment opportunities that will benefit communities throughout the region.