Expert Advocates for 'Djibouti Plus One' Maritime Strategy for Ethiopia

Matiwos Ensermu has advocated for a 'Djibouti Plus One' strategy regarding Ethiopia's access to the sea. The expert suggests maintaining Djibouti as the primary gateway while simultaneously developing a second port facility to ensure national trade security. This redundancy is proposed to mitigate risks associated with technical failures, labor strikes, or regional instability at a single hub. Furthermore, the strategy aims to introduce regional competition, which is expected to reduce handling fees and freight rates. The expert emphasized that diversifying port access is critical for Ethiopia's economic resilience.