Speaking at the official launch of the British Ethiopian Chamber of Commerce (BECC), Steve Parker, director general of the British International Freight Association (BIFA) said:

“Together, BECC, BIFA, and the Ethiopian Freight Forwarders and Shipping Agents Association (EFFSAA) — with the support of the Ethiopian Embassy — form a powerful alliance to drive trade facilitation, build capacity in critical infrastructure sectors, and support Ethiopia’s broader logistics transformation goals.”

The launch of the BECC at the Ethiopian Embassy in London reflected the growing momentum behind UK–Ethiopia trade collaboration.

This spirit of collaboration was further cemented by the recent signing of a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between BIFA and the EFFSAA in Addis Ababa.

The agreement aims to strengthen Ethiopia’s logistics and freight forwarding industry through international cooperation, including joint specialised training, a Multimodal Transport Operator (MTO) course, a UK knowledge exchange mission, and support for EFFSAA’s institutional development.

Both associations will also collaborate on the organisation of the FIATA 2027 World Congress, which is set to take place in Ethiopia.

The launch of the BECC was attended by key government and business leaders from both nations, and celebrated the Chamber’s potential to act as a dynamic platform for deepening bilateral partnerships in sectors ranging from logistics and technology to agriculture and energy.

Parker (seen above during his presentation) added: “By aligning diplomatic engagement, business connectivity, and industry expertise, the launch of the BECC and the partnership between BIFA and the EFFSAA sets the foundation for a more integrated, efficient, and prosperous trade relationship between the UK and Ethiopia. This should be good news for BIFA members whose freight and logistics services underpin such trade.”