The Djiboutian sovereign wealth fund, Great Horn Investments Holding (GHIH), rolls the dice to realize its strategic 2035 vision for its blue economy investment courtesy of a Ship Repair Yard.
This new project now sees Djibouti firmly head and shoulders above the rest with its geo-strategical advantages as a regional hub for the transshipment and relay of goods flowing along the major international shipping lanes connecting Asia, Africa and Europe.
On Monday July 31, a naval repair boat integral to the success of the project docked in Djibouti. The ship of large dimensions, which is in the format of an “aquatic garage” is equipped with all the provisions useful for repairing breakdowns, damage and malfunctions to which any ship, private, commercial or military, is subject.
“With this new device, our country increases its capacity to definitively combine all the services relating to the maritime economy”, stated President Ismaïl Omar Guelleh during the event held early this week, adding, “With the acquisition of this naval repair boat, our country has access to a strategic device, which it aspired for, for several decades.”
The shipyard’s repair and maintenance capability is expected to attract more ships to Djibouti, further cementing its position as a regional trade and logistics hub.
The scope of the Project includes the construction of a large floating dry-dock for vessels up to 217 meters-long, workshops, tools and equipment to serve a broad variety of vessels, providing common vessel maintenance and repair services, such as surface treatment, metalworking and maintenance of equipment and machinery.
The Hague, a Netherlands based Invest International Capital (IIC) provided the long-term financing solution for the construction of the ship repair yard and its completion in Djibouti. The financing was structured on the back of an Export Credit Agency cover from the Atradius Dutch State Business.
Djibouti Ports and Free Zones Authority said that Djibouti Ship Repair Yard ambitious project follows the ‘Vision 2035’goal and aims to create up to 3,000 jobs. It added that the 217m long, 43.5m wide dock was built by Damen Shipyard, a global leader in shipbuilding based in Gorinchem, Netherlands.
“It has a lifting capacity of 20,100 tons. This cutting-edge facility will provide crucial repair services for large vessels. Djibouti’s strategic location at the crossroads of major shipping routes makes it the perfect hub for global trade,” it added.
The Ship Repair Yard and floating dock, wholly owned by Great Horn Investments Holding, are part of the continuous effort to establish Djibouti as a world-class maritime and port services hub.Over 40,000 ships pass through the Bab El Mandeb Strait each year.
With a capacity of 50,000 tons, the naval garage put into service in Djibouti far exceeds the provisions of its unique counterpart in the whole region.

By our staff reporter
Japan’s foreign minister, following a one-on-one meeting Thursday with Ethiopia’s deputy prime minister, expressed hope their two nations would work together on the resumption of the Black Sea Grain Initiative.
Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi, making his first visit to Ethiopia, said he shared concerns about the impact of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine on food security in Africa. following a one-on-one meeting with Ethiopia’s Demeke Mekonnen.
“Japan deplores the termination of the Black Sea Grain Initiative by Russia, and Japan hopes to work together with Ethiopia towards the resumption of the initiative,” Hayashi said.
Since the start of the Black Sea grain deal, which took effect in July 2022, the United Nations has overseen the export of more than 262 metric tons of wheat to Ethiopia.
Climate shocks that brought about severe droughts and conflict in Ethiopia have put over 20 million people in need of food assistance.
Hayashi also talked about the Japanese government’s support of the peace deal that ended the war in Ethiopia’s Tigray region.
“I mentioned Japan’s support for implementation of the peace agreement signed between the Ethiopian government and the TPLF [Tigray People’s Liberation Front] and stated that Japan would give serious consideration to further cooperation toward the implementation of this agreement,” he said.
Demeke, who also serves as Ethiopia’s foreign minister, said the two had a productive discussion on issues of mutual interest.
“In our talks, we pledged to deepen our partnership in the political, economic and social sectors,” Demeke said. “In particular, we renewed our commitment to strengthen our investment, trade and development cooperation.”
The Japanese foreign minister’s stop in Ethiopia wrapped up a six-nation tour of Southwest Asia and Africa.

Preparations are in full swing for the upcoming edition of the international exhibition showcasing technologies for Mediterranean agriculture. The Bari fairgrounds are abuzz with activity as the entire exhibition area is being readied. Meanwhile, the conference program and the information and service activities on the exhibition’s website are running at full capacity.
The crucial organizational phase of the Agrilevante exhibition has been successfully completed. Taking place from October 5 to 8 at the Bari fairgrounds, this event presents the finest agricultural production technologies tailored for the Mediterranean region. Over 300 companies are participating, occupying the entire available exhibition space at the fairgrounds.
The offices of FederUnacoma, the Federation of Agricultural Machinery Manufacturers, the direct organizer of the event, are diligently working on the exhibition’s setup and logistics. The exhibition focuses on six thematic areas: cereal growing, viticulture, olive growing, fruit and vegetable cultivation, livestock, and non-food crops. It encompasses a spacious exhibition section within the halls, a newly built structure to accommodate official foreign delegations in collaboration with the ICE Agency, dedicated facilities for the livestock exhibition, as well as outdoor areas equipped for robotics, 4.0 technologies, bioenergy chains, and skill tests with mechanical equipment.
The schedule of conferences and technical meetings is also being finalized. More than 20 events addressing relevant topics for Mediterranean agriculture will be organized. These events are promoted by the Universities of Bari and Foggia, sector publishers such as L’Informatore Agrario and New Business Media, as well as FederUnacoma in partnership with the Agriculture Department of the Puglia Region, Ciheam Bari, and Internationalia, the publisher of Africa Affari magazine.
Gardening: declining market in the first half-year
Data compiled by the manufacturers’ association reveals a significant decline in the gardening and landscaping machinery and equipment market during the first half of the year. The overall drop amounted to 14.5%, with varying degrees of decline across most product types. This downturn comes in contrast to the substantial growth witnessed in the market over the preceding two-year period from 2020 to 2021. Factors such as anomalous weather patterns, inflation, and rising prices have collectively hindered the market’s performance.
According to sales figures analyzed by the Comagarden manufacturers’ association through the Morgan survey network, there has been a 14.5% decrease in sales volume compared to the same period last year. Different product categories experienced distinct trends; chainsaws (-16.8%), tillers (-23%), garden tractors (-4.6%), and consumer ride-on mowers (-5.3%) all saw declines. Gardenvacs/Blowers (-12.3%) and traditional lawn mowers (-24.1%) also experienced decreases, although robotic models within the lawn mower category continued to show positive growth, with a 13% increase during the semester. Hedge trimmers (+11.5%) and professional-grade ride-on mowers exhibited growth of 81.1%, albeit with a limited number of machines.
Comagarden attributes the decline in sales to a combination of factors. Economic uncertainty and inflation, leading to higher list prices, have discouraged purchases, particularly among private individuals and hobbyists. Additionally, the abnormal weather patterns, characterized by prolonged droughts and intermittent floods, have adversely affected vegetation development, resulting in reduced investments in maintenance for public parks, private gardens, and sports facilities.
Comagarden acknowledges that the market downsizing was somewhat anticipated, considering the significant growth experienced during the COVID-19 crisis, lockdowns, and travel restrictions in 2020-2021. These circumstances had stimulated increased interest in green care, particularly among private individuals and hobbyists. However, a more stable economic environment and favorable weather conditions could potentially contribute to a partial recovery in sales during the second half of the year. The market is estimated to end the year with a deficit of around 6%, totaling approximately 1.2 million machines and equipment sold.