The Trade Ministers of the Horn of Africa Initiative (HoAI) countries have signed a Joint Ministerial Declaration, establishing the Regional Trade Facilitation Committee (RTFC).
The agreement was concluded at the first meeting of the Horn of Africa Initiative Trade Ministers, chaired by Somalia, and focused on strengthening trade and economic integration in the region.
The meeting reached three key outcomes: the approval of the Regional Trade Facilitation Action Plan 2026–2031, which includes five priority actions; the formal establishment of the Regional Trade Facilitation Committee (RTFC), following the signing of the Joint Declaration; and the agreement on a 45-day work plan to operationalize the committee and prepare for its first meeting.
The new committee is expected to connect the national trade facilitation committees of the initiative’s member countries, and work on accelerating cross-border trade, exchanging experiences and implementing regional trade reforms.
The committee will also focus on addressing non-tariff barriers to the movement of goods and trade in the Horn of Africa.
The Horn of Africa Initiative member countries are set to appoint their representatives to the committee by 30 September 2026, while the first meeting of the committee will be held within the agreed 45 days.
The chairman of the conference, Somali Minister of Trade and Industry Amb. Jamaal Mohamed Hassan, said that the success of this agreement will not be measured only by the declarations and agreements signed, but will be assessed by the impact it has on business and the people of the region.
The minister indicated that the expected results include simplified trade procedures, reduced time for goods to be cleared at borders, better coordination between border agencies and reduced trade costs.
“Today, we have a unified direction, a clear implementation process and a clear timetable. What is now expected of us is to translate this political commitment into tangible results for the business community and the people of the region,” said Minister Jamal Mohamed Hassan.
The joint declaration was signed by the trade ministers of Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia and South Sudan, in the presence of international institutions and partners supporting the development of the region.
The initiative aims to strengthen economic cooperation among the countries of the Horn of Africa and create a unified economic zone that makes trade in the region easier, safer and more inclusive.
