ETHIOPIA – Ethiopian Airlines Group, Africa’s largest airline group and a global aviation powerhouse, has inaugurated its advanced e-commerce logistics facility in a grand ceremony at the Ethiopian Cargo & Logistics premises.

This groundbreaking facility is strategically positioned to elevate Addis Ababa as the premier cross-border e-commerce logistics hub for Africa and beyond.

The CEO of Ethiopian Airlines Group, Mr. Mesfin Tasew, emphasized the facility’s significance in revolutionizing the e-commerce industry on the continent.

He stated, “The inauguration of this cutting-edge e-commerce logistics facility is a significant breakthrough for Ethiopian Airlines Group and the entire African economy.”

“Through this facility, Ethiopian Airlines is paving the way for the development of e-commerce services in Ethiopia and the African continent.”

Covering an expansive area of 15,000 square meters, the facility is designed to handle an impressive 150,000 tons annually.

The investment of USD 55 million in high-end technologies has paid off, bringing global trends to the forefront of the African e-commerce landscape.

Tasew remarked, “We are glad to witness that our investment has indeed enabled us to set the e-commerce industry in the continent to follow the global trend.”

Equipped with state-of-the-art technology and meticulous systems, the e-commerce Logistics Facility offers an array of services, including consolidation, deconsolidation, sortation, repacking, labeling, and more.

The implementation of efficient systems allows customers to effortlessly track and trace their shipments from any location.

The success of Ethiopian Cargo and Logistics Services has been recognized through numerous prestigious awards, including two awards at the Air Cargo News Awards 2023 and recognition as the Best Cargo Airline-Africa at the Arabian Cargo Awards.

It also received the Sustainable Cargo Airline of the Year-Africa at the 2023 Freight Week Sustainability Awards and was honored as the African Cargo Airline of the Year & Air Cargo Brand of the Year in Africa 2023 by STAT Trade Times Cargo Excellence Awards.

This announcement closely follows Ethiopia’s grant agreement of EUR 10.6 million (USD 11.5M) with the Kingdom of the Netherlands for the initial phase of the Cool Port Addis project.

Signed on February 28, 2024, this collaboration aims to overcome bottlenecks hindering Ethiopia’s horticultural potential.

The grant, equivalent to approximately 647 million Birr, will support the Cool Port Addis initiative within Modjo Green Logistics, enhancing logistical processes across the avocado value chain and other fruits and vegetables.

The Netherlands, one of Ethiopia’s top ten contributors to Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), stands as a crucial economic partner and a key export destination for Ethiopian products.

The grant arrangement was formalized by MoF State Minister H.E. Semereta Sewasew and H.E. Henk Jan Bakker, the Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Ethiopia, in the presence of H.E. Dr. Alemu Sime, Minister of Transport and Logistics, along with various stakeholders from both nations.

The Cool Port Addis Project I aligns with Ethiopia’s strategic vision to unlock the full potential of its horticultural sector.

This grant is a testament to the enduring partnership between Ethiopia and the Netherlands, focused on creating sustainable solutions that benefit both nations.

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