Trade agreement signed

Ethiopia and Sudan have signed an agreement to strengthen trade and business links along their common border, the Ethiopian pro-government Walta Information Centre said on 5 May. The Sudanese-Ethiopian joint ministerial commission meeting in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, agreed to improve trade, transport and communication links between the two countries. Sudanese Foreign Minister Mustafa Uthman Isma'il and Ethiopian Trade and Industry Minister Kasahun Ayele were reported to have discussed the political situation in the Horn of Africa, and agreed to coordinate their positions under the aegis of the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD). Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi was quoted as saying during the meeting that Ethiopia was "willing to further consolidate its amicable and cordial ties with Sudan". Both countries had emphasised the need to increase Ethiopia's access to Port Sudan and to facilitate Sudanese oil exports to Ethiopia, Walta said. Mustafa and Ayele also discussed the creation of a Sudan-Ethiopia rail link, and the establishment of a free trade area between the two countries. The meeting followed efforts by the Sudanese-Ethiopian border committee to agree on the management of their common border, which has been disputed in some areas.