By Asha Elmi - Reporter
Djibouti, 20 November 2025 – Djibouti has received a new fleet of vehicles to support the implementation of the Horn of Africa Digital Market Integration (HDMI) project, aimed at strengthening regional digital trade and logistics systems.
The handover ceremony on Thursday was presided over by the Minister of Communications and Posts and Telecommunications, Radwan Abdillahi Bahdon, and attended by the Executive Secretary of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), Workineh Gabayehu.
The equipment forms part of the HDMI Phase I project, funded by the African Development Bank (AfDB) and coordinated by IGAD, which seeks to accelerate digital economic integration across the Horn of Africa.
The project, with a budget of $5.8 million and scheduled for implementation between 2025 and 2027, targets Djibouti, Ethiopia, Somalia and South Sudan. It focuses on promoting digital trade, e-commerce, data-driven services and the development of technology-based market systems, while fostering trust in digital platforms.
Speaking at the ceremony, Gabayehu underscored the importance of harmonising regional e-commerce policies and ensuring equitable access to online commerce, particularly for rural communities.
He also highlighted the evolving role of postal services in supporting the region’s digital transformation.
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Minister Bahdon said Djibouti Post plays a central role in the logistics and digital implementation of the project, describing it as a key operator in the development of a regional digital market.
"To his Director and his teams, I give all my confidence: you are the essential link of this transformation," he said.
The Director General of Djibouti Post, Bahnan Ali Meidal, said digitalisation has become a strategic driver for economic integration and trade efficiency, noting that the newly received equipment will enhance delivery performance and reliability.
Officials said the fleet is expected to reduce delivery times, improve service consistency and reinforce the operational backbone of the emerging regional digital economy.
Djibouti’s participation in the HDMI project is seen as part of broader efforts to position the country as a digital and logistics hub in the Horn of Africa.
