Overview
Located at the crossroads of Africa, Asia, and Europe, Djibouti is the center of trade and services for a multitude of business. From petroleum storage to container transshipments. Free Zones to financial services, the country is a dynamic logistics hub for four major markets: COMESA, the WTO, ACP, and the Arab League. Djibouti is in its own right a world of prospects, with the fishing trade, mining sector, energy market and tourism become ever more important sources of income.
In its efforts to fight terrorism, Djibouti has joined forces with the United States, who established a military presence in the country as part of Operation Enduring Freedom, the U.S. military response to the September 11 attacks. Ties with France continue to remain close and the French army’s largest military presence outside of France is still based in Djibouti, with approximately 2,600 troops. Offering Djibouti as a base of operations for these forces has not only safeguarded security in the region, but has also brought in much-needed development aid, with troops making frequent contributions to the country’s social network by building local schools and infrastructure.
President Guelleh views the strategic alliance with the United States as an important catalyst for Djibouti’s social and economic development. Within the diplomatic sphere, Djibouti has benefited from a number of projects funded by the USAID-managed Economic Support Fund (ESF), particularly in the fields of education and public health. Despite these important contributions to the country’s social development, Djibouti’s government still faces many challenges, as the country ranked 154th among 177 countries on the 2004 United Nations Development Program’s (UNDP) Human Development Index. Yet investments made by Dubai Ports World and other major companies with operations in Djibouti are sure indicators that prosperity is arriving on the country’s shores.
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