More than a year after Rwanda acquired a 20 hectare plot of land from Djibouti in a strategic port zone, negotiations are ongoing to integrate it into a wider plan of servicing 451ha owned by Djibouti Ports and Free Zones Authority (DPFZA).

The DPFZA is the authority in charge of administration and control of all the free trade zones in Djibouti. In March, last year, Prof. Joseph Nsengimana, then Rwanda’s envoy to Djibouti, signed documents paving way for Rwanda to own the plot.

According to Ephrem Karangwa, Head of Trade Fairs and Investments at the Private Sector Federation, Rwanda investing entity and DPFZA will run the separate phases of the project starting from the feasibility study, designs, and construction. Last year, the Government of Djibouti committed to offer Rwanda an additional 20ha if the initial one is developed as soon as possible.