Horn of Africa trade ministers endorse regional trade roadmap
Ministers endorsed the 2026–2031 Regional Trade Facilitation Roadmap and established a committee to follow up on cross-border reforms.
At the first Horn of Africa Trade Ministers’ Meeting in Addis Ababa on September 3, 2026, ministers endorsed the 2026–2031 Regional Trade Facilitation Roadmap and established a Regional Trade Facilitation Committee.
Somalia’s Minister of Commerce and Industry, H.E. Amb. Gamal M Hassan, chaired the meeting. Ministers agreed on a 45-day plan to begin the committee’s work.
A forum for cross-border issues
The committee is intended to give countries a forum to address barriers and follow up on agreed reforms.
With World Bank financing, HoA DRIVE supports Somalia’s work on trade and export policy, rules of origin, competition and intellectual property reforms, and preparations for a Somalia–Kenya Simplified Trade Regime.
Project support also covers trade information, National Single Window development, standards and laboratory testing, quarantine compliance, livestock market information, traceability and digital veterinary certification.
