Ethiopia and Azerbaijan free trade zones forge cooperation agreement

Addis Ababa, December 1, 2024 (FBC) – The Dire Dawa Free Trade Zone of Ethiopia has officially entered into a cooperation agreement with Azerbaijan’s Alat Free Trade Zone. This collaboration was established during a recent visit by a delegation of senior Ethiopian government officials to the Alat Free Economic Zone in Azerbaijan.

The delegation’s objective was to enhance the operational capabilities of the newly launched Dire Dawa Free Trade Zone by sharing international best practices and experiences. Their discussions focused on implementing a single-window service to streamline operations at Dire Dawa Free Trade Zone.

This visit successfully established a formal relationship between the two free trade zones, paving the way for future cooperation and collaborative initiatives. The Ethiopian delegation engaged in discussions and field visits with leaders from Alat Free Economic Zone, local industrial park authorities, and small and medium-sized enterprise agencies.

Covering 719 hectares in Baku, Azerbaijan’s Alat Free Economic Zone serves as a significant hub, while the Dire Dawa Free Trade Zone is recognized as Ethiopia’s first to evolve from an industrial park into a fully operational free trade zone.