Ethiopia has officially launched the €6 million ECOTRADE Project, a four-year initiative funded by the European Union (EU) to support the country’s implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

The high-level launch ceremony took place today  in Addis Ababa, with the presence of Ethiopia’s Minister of Trade and Regional Integration, Dr. Kassahun Gofe; EU Ambassador to Ethiopia, Sofie From-Emmesberger; Julien Voituriez, First Advisor at the Embassy of France to Ethiopia; and other senior officials, development partners, and private sector representatives.

ECOTRADE, designed and managed by Expertise France, a subsidiary of Agence Française de Développement and France’s public agency, aims to enhance Ethiopia’s trade policy framework by aligning it with AfCFTA protocols, while also building the capacity of public institutions and empowering the private sector—particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and women-led businesses—to effectively participate in regional markets.

“This initiative speaks directly to our national development aspirations,” said Dr. Kassahun. “It supports Ethiopia’s Homegrown Economic Reform Agenda, complements our national trade policy direction, and is anchored in our broader integration goals under the African Union’s Agenda 2063.”

The project will operate in close coordination with the Ministry of Trade and Regional Integration (MoTRI), the Ethiopian Customs Commission, chambers of commerce, exporters’ associations, and other key public-private actors. Through targeted interventions in policy alignment, trade facilitation, and value chain development, ECOTRADE is expected to improve regional connectivity and foster inclusive economic growth.

Ambassador From-Emmesberger reaffirmed the EU’s commitment to Ethiopia’s development through collaborative and people-centered initiatives.

“At the heart of ECOTRADE lies a bold ambition—to enable Ethiopia to reap the full benefits of AfCFTA,” she said. “This means investing in people: entrepreneurs, women traders, customs officials, and students, all of whom are drivers of transformation.”

The ECOTRADE Project also aligns with broader continental and global development goals, including the EU’s Global Gateway strategy and the UN Sustainable Development Goals. It underscores the growing emphasis on trade-led development as a means to boost competitiveness, reduce poverty, and position Ethiopia as a key player in the emerging single African market.

Ethiopia ratified the AfCFTA agreement in 2019 but has yet to fully liberalize its tariffs or engage in the AfCFTA’s Guided Trade Initiative. The ECOTRADE launch comes at a pivotal moment, as Ethiopia is preparing to validate its comprehensive national AfCFTA implementation strategy later today.

To ensure effective execution, MoTRI has established a dedicated coordination office for trade integration and facilitation. This office will work alongside a national implementation committee and three technical working groups tasked with guiding, overseeing, and ensuring accountability across institutions.