Enhanced borderlands cooperation vital to boost regional integration: Finance Minister

Addis Ababa, April 14, 2023 (FBC) – The 16th Horn of Africa Initiative Ministerial Roundtable (HoAI) held yesterday in Washington D.C on the margins of the World Bank and IMF Spring Meetings under Chairmanship of Ahmed Shide.

On the occasion, the Chair of the initiative and Finance Minister of Ethiopia; Ahmed Shide mentioned the vitality of enhanced borderlands cooperation to boost regional integration aspirations of IGAD Secretariat.

He also emphasized the need to coordinated efforts by members of the initiative and partner organizations to tackle the multifaced natural and man made threats surrounding the region.

Participants also stressed for a joint cross border security and infrastructure development.

It is to be recall that the Horn of Africa Initiative was launched by Finance Ministers of the five Horn of Africa countries including Djibouti, Somalia, Kenya, Ethiopia, and Eritrea on 18 October 2019 in which they stressed the importance of regional, coordinated and concerted action among the countries to face common development challenges hampering economic growth and poverty eradication efforts.