Addis Ababa, December 12, 2024 (FMC) – An Ethiopian delegation led by Ms. Semereta Sewasew, State Minister of Economic Cooperation at the Ministry of Finance and Denghe Boru, State Minister of Transport is visiting France this week to gain insights on logistics and railway reform and explore collaboration.
This mission is part of Ethiopia’s Homegrown Economic Reform Agenda 2.0, which aims to modernize critical infrastructure, improve trade logistics, and ensure sustainable growth. The delegation seeks to draw lessons from the French experience, particularly its successful public-private partnerships in managing transport and logistics systems.
During their visit, the delegation toured Rungis International Market, one of the largest wholesale food markets in the world and a global leader in logistics innovation and sustainability. Spanning over 234 hectares and serving as a critical hub for the distribution of fresh produce, the market exemplifies how public-private collaboration can optimize food supply chains, support multimodal logistics, and drive economic growth.
Rungis’ integration of road, rail, and waterway logistics, as well as its commitment to sustainability, including the relaunch of the Perpignan-Rungis train and significant investments in electric vehicle infrastructure, provided valuable insights for Ethiopia’s ongoing reforms.
In addition to the Rungis visit, the delegation held strategic meetings with key French stakeholders, including SNCF and Alstom on the private sector side, as well as the French Shareholding Agency (APE) at the Ministry of Economics and Finance and the French Transport Regulatory Authority (ART).
These discussions focused on leveraging expertise in railway operations, infrastructure management, and regulatory frameworks, as well as exploring the role of the state as a shareholder in public enterprises, effective debt management strategies for state-owned enterprises with infrastructure mandates, and balancing public service obligations with financial sustainability.
A courtesy meeting was held between State Minister Ms. Semereta Sewasew, Ethiopian Ambassador to France, Mahlet Hailu Guadey, and Marie-Hélène Loison, Deputy Director General of the French Development Agency (AFD).
The discussion highlighted the critical role of AFD and France in supporting Ethiopia’s economic reforms, Ethiopia’s Ministry of Finance reported.
Ms. Semereta expressed gratitude for the substantial support provided by AFD and France, while highlighting Ethiopia’s significant reform priorities. She underscored the importance of scaling up this partnership to meet the ambitious goals of Ethiopia’s reform agenda, reinforcing the essential contribution of France to these efforts.
Looking ahead, the delegation will continue their mission with meetings scheduled with European Union institutions and Italian railway stakeholders, including infrastructure managers, operators, and regulators, the Ministry indicated.
It was mentioned that these engagements further highlight Ethiopia’s commitment to fostering international collaboration to achieve its economic and logistical transformation goals.
“By integrating global best practices, Ethiopia aims to enhance its logistics infrastructure, streamline trade corridors, and build a robust railway network to support industrialization and economic diversification. The Ethiopian government is dedicated to improve the logistics and transport sectors as part of its broader reform agenda, ensuring the sector becomes a cornerstone of the country’s development strategy and a catalyst for regional trade and connectivity,” the Ministry underscored.