• Djibouti offered Ethiopia a 60% equity stake in the Tadjoura Port, according to Finance Minister Ilyas Moussa Dawaleh.
• Ethiopian government declined the proposal, seeking corridor access in addition to the equity stake.
• The statement was made during a press conference in Djibouti.
• In October 2025, Djibouti entered a 30-year concession agreement with Red Sea Gateway Terminal International (RSGTI), a subsidiary of Saudi Arabia’s Jeddah-based Red Sea Gateway Terminal (RSGT), to operate port facilities on the Red Sea.
• Discussions aimed to deepen bilateral cooperation in port and logistics infrastructure.
• The development reflects ongoing negotiations over Ethiopia’s maritime trade access.
• On March 10, DPFZA issued a notice instructing shipping agents not to impose additional surcharges on cargo loaded prior to the onset of the Gulf crisis.

Why it matters?

The proposed 60% stake in Tadjoura Port highlights Djibouti’s willingness to deepen economic integration. Ethiopia’s preference for corridor access underscores its priority for guaranteed and efficient trade routes critical to its import-export activities.