Ethiopia's Minister of Transport and Logistics, Dr. Alemu Sime, assured that the country will continue using its current ports without interruption, despite signing a new port access deal with Somaliland.
The Minister said Ethiopia has no intention to make any changes that could disrupt smooth operations at the ports it currently utilizes.
He reiterated Ethiopia's commitment to keep fostering economic growth and sovereignty through the efficient use of existing logistics corridors.
Dr. Alemu acknowledged that although Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has repeatedly addressed the importance of sea access for Ethiopia, some still fail to grasp current realities and unjustly raise concerns about potential war.
However, he reassured that Ethiopia has now succeeded in securing sea outlet access through diplomatic means.
He added that the new deal will have meaningful implications for Ethiopia's participation in global trade and regional security.
The Minister thanked Prime Minister Abiy's extensive diplomatic efforts leading to the deal with Somaliland.
Meanwhile, the Ethiopian Shipping and Logistics Services Enterprise (ESLSE) lauded the new deal with Somaliland to secure sea outlets for Ethiopia.
The enterprise's Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Beriso Amelo, called it a "victory" for the country.
He underscored that Ethiopia secured the deal without infringing on anyone's interests but through diplomatic means only.
At the same time, he acknowledged the deal's importance in reducing Ethiopia's logistics costs and enabling holistic national growth.
Finally, he conveyed appreciation for the Prime Minister's efforts in securing invaluable port access for Ethiopia's logistics sector and overall development.