News Maritime Authority grants licenses to second batch of multimodal transporter
March 15, 2025
By Temesgen Tegafaw
The Ethiopian Maritime Authority has granted multimodal transport licenses to three additional companies, while its heads caution the first batch of firms to receive the licenses to begin providing services this month or risk revocation.
Ethio-Djibouti Railway SC, Ethio Railway Logistics Plc, and Gulf Igot FCZ Multimodal Operator were awarded the licenses during a ceremony on March 14, 2025.
Abdulber Shemsu, director-general of the Maritime Authority, expressed his hope that the new entrants would be able to ease problems in the country’s multimodal transport service industry, which suffers from delays that often see shipments held up at ports, particularly in Djibouti, for days on end.
Shipments destined for Ethiopia are currently using routes linked with exporters in China, the UAE, the US, and Europe, according to the Director-General.
“To successfully respond to the needs of importers and exporters for better facilities and fair prices, licenses are being issued to those with the capacity to provide multimodal transport services,” he said.
The Authority granted the first batch of multimodal transport licenses to the firms Panafric Global Logistics, Tikur Abay Transport and Logistics Company, and Cosmos Multimodal SC in March 2024.
However, the head of the Authority has now revealed that these firms have yet to begin operations.
“If these firms do not start providing services before the given deadline, they will be subject to administrative action and their licenses will be revoked,” said Abdulber.
He told The Reporter that the sector will be fully opened up to foreign companies within the coming two years.
Alemu Sime (PhD), minister of Transport and Logistics, asserts that opening the sector to foreign investment is an essential move in light of the country’s need to better manage multimodal transport services.