Ethiopia officially entered continental trade on Thursday, dispatching its first exports under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement. The move marks a major step in the country’s plan to expand trade with African markets.

The inaugural exports, sent from Ethiopian Airlines Cargo Terminal at Bole International Airport, included meat, vegetables, fruits, and khat to Somalia; white and red beans and coffee to South Africa; and maize and bean products to Kenya. Land-based cargo shipments were also introduced, marking a multi-modal start to Ethiopia’s continental trade operations.

Kassahun Gofe (PhD), Minister of Trade and Regional Integration, framed the launch as a milestone in Ethiopia’s economic integration strategy. On social media, he said the AfCFTA presents “a significant opportunity for our country to expand its export market access across African nations and achieve overall prosperity.” He cited Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali: “The new frontier for Africa is indeed regional integration, where minds are open to ideas and markets are open to trade. Trade defuses the most fraught relations, and integrated markets generate prosperity.”

Officials described the event as the culmination of coordinated institutional efforts and effective leadership transfer, with recognition given to those who contributed to implementing the AfCFTA framework. Ethiopia, a founding African Union member, aims to strengthen its cooperative experience on the continent while actively pursuing membership in the World Trade Organization.