Ali Published April 10, 2026
0Cranes poised above shimmering waters at the Pakistan Deep Water Container Terminal at Keamari. — Dawn/FileListen to article1x1.2×1.5x
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Ethiopia have agreed to explore establishing a trilateral maritime alliance, potentially involving Djibouti, to enhance trade connectivity between Asia and Africa.
An understanding was reached during a meeting between Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry and Ethiopian Ambassador Dr Oumer Hussien, who called on the minister for the first time since assuming his diplomatic assignment. The two sides reviewed proposals and measures to expand bilateral trade and economic engagement.
During the meeting, the minister underscored Pakistan’s growing focus on expanding maritime links with African nations and proposed forming a three-country alliance comprising Pakistan, Djibouti, and Ethiopia. He added that the framework could be expanded to include other countries through mutual consultation.
The minister highlighted that, despite being a landlocked country, Ethiopia could significantly enhance its trade capacity by utilising the Port of Djibouti under a structured maritime arrangement. He added that a formal agreement could be signed once the necessary groundwork is complete, with a ceremony planned to mark the occasion.
Ambassador Dr Oumer welcomed the proposal and emphasised the need for technical consultations between experts from both sides, with designated focal persons from each side to deliberate on operational modalities and develop a practical framework for the proposed alliance.
Published in Dawn, April 10th, 2026
Follow Dawn Business on X, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook for insights on business, finance and tech from Pakistan and across the world.
Our readers are at the heart of everything we do.
Do you have a thought to share or a way we can improve? We’d love to hear it. Reach out to us at feedback@dawn.com.
Kalbe Ali is a senior staff reporter for Dawn based in Islamabad, with nearly 20 years of field reporting experience. He covers a diverse range of topics, including the internet, IT and telecom sectors, as well as religious