This morning, the Chairman participated to the round table on the implementation of Trade Facilitation Reforms, organized by the Minister of Commerce and Tourism, His Excellency M. Mohamed Warsama Dirieh.
Were also present the Minister of Budget, H.E M. Isman Ibrahim Robleh, and the Ambassador of the European Union to Djibouti and to IGAD, Mme. Denisa-Elena Ionete.
In his address, Chairman highlighted the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement, ratified by the Republic of Djibouti in 2017, which underscores a fundamental principle of global trade: efficient procedures, transparency, visibility, and digitization which are decisive as well as physical infrastructures.
Djibouti Ports and Free Zones Authority has embodied this principle through the Djibouti Port Community System (DPCS). This electronic single-window platform is mandatory for all documentation linked to import, export, and transit operations. DPCS connects all key institutions involved in cargo movement, including:
-Port operators
-Customs
-Shipping agents
-Freight forwarders
-Importers and exporters
-Free zone operators
-The Corridor Agency
- and regulatory bodies (LAANA, CAMME, LBCE, etc.)
Chairman reminded that one of DPCS’s greatest strengths is its full end-to-end integration, seamlessly linking physical operations, regulatory processes, and private-sector activities within a unified digital ecosystem. The platform connects shipping lines, freight forwarders, free zone companies, transporters, financial institutions, and public administrations.
It also processes more than 675 million DJF in online transactions every month.
This integration provides complete transparency, enabling real-time tracking of vessel arrivals, loading and unloading operations, administrative formalities, and all movements entering or leaving the ports and free zones. Through DPCS, shipping lines submit the Summary Declaration (Manifest), specifying all cargo on board, as well as the Delivery Order (DO) and the NIF code.
DPCS is also interconnected with the Corridor’s RFID fleet-management system managed by TradeMark and financed by the European Union allowing the tracking of trucks well beyond national corridors up to the last mile.
The efficiency of this system has been recognized by the World Bank and the International Association of Ports and Harbors (IAPH), both ranking DPCS among the top Port Community Systems globally. This recognition has prompted several countries to undertake benchmarking missions in Djibouti, including Ivory Coast in September 2024 and Namibia in August 2025. A delegation from the Democratic Republic of Congo is expected in December to study the system as well.
Looking ahead, with the forthcoming launch of the Djibouti Commodities Exchange in the first quarter of 2026, Djibouti Ports and Free Zones Authority is committed to strengthening continental and global trade by connecting commodity markets within the free zones under the CIF and FOB Djibouti basis.
Through his participation in this event, Chairman showed DPFZA’s support to the Government in fully implementing the Category C measures required to achieve comprehensive Trade Facilitation Reforms.
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