In Ethiopia, rapid urbanisation and increasing trade volumes are placing growing
pressure on key economic corridors, particularly the Addis Ababa–Djibouti corridor and
the Addis-Tog Wajale Corridor, which handles the majority of the country’s imports and
exports. While Addis Ababa dominates the national urban system, secondary cities
along this corridor have the potential to improve logistics efficiency, support industrial
growth and drive more balanced economic development. Recognising this opportunity,
GCIEP is identifying strategic secondary cities – critical yet underutilised nodes within
national logistics systems that can drive economic growth. In these cities, targeted
infrastructure and investment preparation can unlock broader economic benefits –
catalysing economic clusters and attracting private sector investment.
Read the full learning note here.