By: Robert
Kwaku Annor
The Horn of Africa
Initiative (HoAI) has endorsed a Trade Roadmap and held the first meeting of
its Regional Trade Facilitation Committee (RTFC) as the regional bloc moves to
strengthen trade cooperation and implementation.
The developments were
announced following the 29th Horn of Africa Initiative ministerial meeting held
in Nairobi, with Liban Obsiye, Ministry of Finance Somalia, saying the
Initiative is moving from ambitions to implementation and delivering results.
“The best evidence of this
is the endorsement of the Trade Roadmap and the first meeting of the Regional
Trade Facilitation Committee (RTFC) which was facilitated by the German
government with the support of other Development Partners,” Obsiye said.
The Regional Trade
Facilitation Committee is expected to support implementation of the
Initiative’s trade agenda and strengthen cooperation among member states and
development partners.
Obsiye said the HoAI’s
progress depends on continued cooperation between its member states and
development partners.
“As ever, the HoAI cannot
deliver without the strong partnership between member states and development
partners,” he said.
He also congratulated and
thanked the Minister of Finance of Somalia, H.E. Bihi Iman Egeh, for his strong
and visionary chairmanship of the HoAI.
The 29th ministerial meeting
marks a step in the Initiative’s efforts to translate regional ambitions into
practical programmes, with trade facilitation emerging as a key area of
implementation.
