Pakistan is weighing a maritime alliance with Pakistan, Ethiopia and Djibouti as part of a wider push to strengthen trade routes, improve sea connectivity and deepen engagement with African markets.
The proposal was discussed in Islamabad during a meeting between Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry and Ethiopia’s Ambassador to Pakistan, Dr. Oumer Hussien Oba.
During the meeting, both sides reviewed the idea of creating a joint maritime trade framework involving Pakistan, Ethiopia and Djibouti.
The minister said a collaborative structure could improve trade links and open new commercial opportunities across the region. He also stressed that Pakistan is placing special focus on stronger maritime relations with African countries.
The proposal carries added significance because Ethiopia is landlocked and depends heavily on Djibouti’s ports for external trade.
Djibouti already handles more than 90 per cent of Ethiopian cargo. That makes the country a critical gateway for any broader framework aimed at improving regional trade flows.
Pakistan sees room to expand exports
The Ethiopian ambassador welcomed the proposed trilateral arrangement and said experts from both sides would hold consultations to shape a practical framework for future cooperation.
He also highlighted current trade ties between the two countries. Ethiopia imports pharmaceuticals, surgical instruments, garments, fertilisers and rice from Pakistan, with scope for further growth in that trade.
The maritime affairs minister said Pakistan has improved its ports, including stronger cargo-handling capacity, which could support a larger role in regional shipping and logistics.
He suggested the proposed framework might eventually grow beyond three countries. Over time, that expansion could help increase trade volumes and deepen connectivity across linked markets.
Overall, the proposal reflects Pakistan’s effort to position itself more actively in African and Red Sea-linked trade networks.
By exploring maritime cooperation with Ethiopia and Djibouti, Islamabad is seeking new trade routes while also testing a model that could expand into a broader regional trade platform.
