By - Reporter
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DJIBOUTI, 21 October 2026 Canada's diplomatic mission in Djibouti is considering shifting its official cargo shipments from air freight to sea transport through Djibouti's ports, the Djibouti Ports and Free Zones Authority (DPFZA) said on Wednesday.
The proposal was discussed on Wednesday, 21 October, during a meeting between DPFZA Chairman Aboubaker Omar Hadi and Karim Matallah, counsellor for management and consul at the Canadian embassy.
The meeting took place at the Red Sea World Centre, according to a statement published by the authority on X. Canada's diplomatic shipments currently arrive by air, the statement said.
Hadi recommended that the embassy use the Djibouti Ports Community System (DPCS), a digital platform designed to improve cargo tracking and visibility from arrival at Djibouti's ports through to final delivery.
He also highlighted the authority's office in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia's capital, which provides services to customers using Djibouti's logistics infrastructure.
Hadi chairs several state-linked entities, including Djibouti Ports Community Systems, the Doraleh Multipurpose Port and the Djibouti International Free Trade Zone.
The two sides also discussed opportunities to attract more Canadian businesses to Djibouti's free zones. According to the authority, the Djibouti International Free Trade Zone (DIFTZ) currently hosts 12 Canadian companies.
Launched in July 2018, the DIFTZ was promoted as Africa's largest free trade zone, with planned investment of $3.5 billion across 4,800 hectares.
The project is operated through a partnership in which Djibouti holds a majority stake alongside China Merchants Group, Dalian Port Authority and Chinese technology company IZP.
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The authority is also promoting a model known as CIF Djibouti, under which goods are shipped to the country on cost, insurance and freight terms before being stored and redistributed to regional markets.
Wednesday's meeting forms part of a broader effort by Djibouti's port authorities to attract international trade and investment.
Earlier in October, Hadi met Saudi Arabia's ambassador and encouraged Saudi businesses to expand commercial activities in Djibouti and invest in its free trade zone.
Diplomatic and economic relations between Canada and Djibouti remain relatively limited but have shown signs of expansion.
Canadian Ambassador Nicolas Simard presented his credentials to President Ismail Omar Guelleh in December 2025, expressing Ottawa's interest in strengthening cooperation in security, climate change and energy.
Simard also welcomed an agreement between Djibouti and a Canadian geothermal company.
According to Canadian government data, bilateral merchandise trade between the two countries was valued at C$5.3 million in 2021.
Djibouti continues to promote its ports, free zones and transport infrastructure as part of its ambition to become a major logistics and trade hub serving the Horn of Africa and surrounding markets.