By Hanad Abdi - Reporter
NAIROBI, 28 September 2026 — Ministers from countries participating in the Horn of Africa Initiative on Monday approved a regional trade action plan aimed at boosting cross-border trade and strengthening economic integration.
The 29th meeting of the Horn of Africa Initiative was chaired by Somalia’s Minister of Finance, Biixi Iimaan Cige. The meeting brought together ministers from participating countries, representatives of donor governments and international organisations.
Institutions including the World Bank, the African Development Bank, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and the European Union also took part in the meeting. The organisations support development projects and economic cooperation across the region.
The one-day meeting focused on strengthening regional integration and economic cooperation, as well as increasing investment in priority areas across the Horn of Africa.
Key priorities included the development of regional infrastructure, particularly electricity, water and roads connecting countries across the region. Such infrastructure is considered important for facilitating the movement of people and goods and expanding cross-border trade.
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During the meeting, ministers approved the Horn of Africa Trade Development Action Plan, which was prepared by trade ministers from countries participating in the Horn of Africa Initiative.
The plan follows a meeting of trade ministers in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in August 2026, where they discussed measures to strengthen trade and economic integration among countries in the region.
Somalia’s Finance Minister Biixi Iimaan Cige thanked governments participating in the Horn of Africa Initiative and international partners for their support. He also emphasised the importance of cooperation and investment in priority regional projects.
The meeting comes as Horn of Africa countries seek to strengthen economic cooperation, improve infrastructure and facilitate cross-border trade. The new action plan is intended to provide a framework for advancing those regional priorities.