Federal officials expect to see the Dire Dawa Free Trade Zone facilitate USD four billion in trade volume over the coming five years, according to an “investment deal book” published in partnership with the European Chamber in Ethiopia and Grant Thornton.
The document from the Investment Commission and Finance Ministry outlines plans to leverage the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) to boost trade in Dire Dawa, the site of the first industrial park to undergo transformation into a free trade zone under a federal initiative.
The industrial park-turned-trade zone currently houses 60 large investors, according to the publication.
Exporters leasing space there are exempt from customs duties on capital goods, construction materials and spare parts. They can also retain 100 percent of the forex they generate.
The zone is integrated with the Ethio-Djibouti railway, and is located 310 km from Djibouti Port and less than three kilometers from Dire Dawa Dry Port.
