Ethiopia is still relying heavily on the Lamu Port of Kenya to ferry the country’s import and export cargo consignment through the Indian Ocean.
That was discussed during the second Joint Technical Committee meeting of the Lamu Port-South Sudan-Ethiopia-Transport Corridor Program held in Nairobi, Kenya.
The meeting has reviewed the validation of a proposed Regional Coordination Mechanism to streamline the development process of this important regional communication infrastructure backbone.
Lamu Port-South Sudan-Ethiopia-Transport (LAPSSET) Corridor is a project aimed at boosting regional integration and economic development.
This crucial step, supported by the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), aligns with decisions made at the third LAPSSET Ministerial Council Meeting held in Juba, South Sudan, 2023.
The meeting was attended by representatives from the footprint countries of Ethiopia, Kenya and South Sudan, including partners from the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD), Africa Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) Secretariat and the ECA.
Director General of the LAPSSET Corridor Development Authority in Kenya, Stephen Ikua, stressed the importance of shared commitment to the successful implementation of the LAPSSET Corridor.
Ikua pointed out the benefits of establishing a regional coordination framework and streamlining the financing approach for cross-border components of the program.
The Lead Executive Officer for Logistics Administration from the Ethiopian Maritime Authority (EMA) Yalew Tesfaye, reiterated that Ethiopia’s recent successful shipment of bulk cargo through the Port of Lamu was a tangible example of the corridor’s potential.
He acknowledged that, as a landlocked country, the LAPSSET corridor offers Ethiopia an opportunity to ensure sustainable access to multiple seaports to support its growing economy and population.
The Director General for Road and Safety Authority of South Sudan Lado Tombe, added that the LAPSSET Corridor Program is one of the top priorities for South Sudan.
Tombe explained that the World Bank had agreed to fund the engineering design and construction of the LAPSSET road linking Nadapal and Juba, marking a significant milestone for the project.
Chief Executive Officer at the Kenya Secretariat of NEPAD/APRM Samori Okwiya, lauded the member states and stakeholders for the progress in the development of the LAPSSET Corridor.
He reaffirmed his office’s commitment to support the LAPSSET Corridor Program.
On his part the Director of the Regional Integration and Trade Division of the UN ECA Stephen Karingi, highlighted the importance of the LAPSSET Corridor in enhancing regional connectivity, integration, and trade.
He added that the corridor is contributing to the achievement of SDGs and the AU Agenda 2063.
Karingi acknowledged the tangible progress in implementing the Juba Ministerial Commitments that call on LAPSSET member states to integrate corridor projects into their national development plan and reaffirmed the ECA’s continued support towards strengthened collaborations among the three member states.
The meeting deliberated on the options for establishing the Regional Coordination Mechanism and a key outcome was consensus on the preferred option for the RCM including its governance structures.
This paves the way for developing the legal framework, which will be presented at the next Joint Technical Committee meeting and subsequently to the Fourth Ministerial Council for adoption.