ADDIS ABABA – The Ministry of Transport and Logistics has formally introduced the Integrated Freight Transport Management System (IFTMS). This significant technological advancement aims to enhance and update Ethiopia’s cargo transportation industry.
At the unveiling ceremony, Transportation and Logistics Minister Alemu Sime (PhD) remarked that this innovative system aims to boost efficiency and improve access within the freight transportation sector.
“This represents a significant move towards an entirely integrated and accessible freight transportation system. The implementation of IFTMS will tackle persistent inefficiencies and management problems within the industry,” he stated.
The IFTMS was created in partnership with the Ethiopian Artificial Intelligence Institute and aims to oversee freight transportation activities by consolidating information about vehicles and drivers. Additionally, it streamlines the process for registering and licensing freight operators, as well as handles cross-border permissions for vehicles, drivers, and helpers.
Alemu highlighted that this system is integral to the ministry’s overarching objective of digitally transforming the transportation and logistics industry. The aim is to cut down delivery periods, as well as to guarantee top-notch, secure, and effective services from origin to end-user.
“The government’s aim is to construct a Digital Ethiopia. Alongside agriculture and tourism, technology plays a key role in our growth plan. To support this initiative, the ministry is collaborating closely with various parties to encourage digital transformation within the logistics sector,” stated the Minister.
Worku Gachena, the Director General of the Ethiopian Artificial Intelligence Institute (PhD), emphasized the wider implications of the system, noting that it considerably decreases bureaucratic hurdles and minimizes resource waste within the private sector.
Worku highlighted that the platform provides an extensive suite of services such as registering and licensing operators, managing information, offering border crossing identification services, handling digital payments, monitoring tours, and overseeing suspensions and fines.
He also highlighted that the system boosts transparency and accountability through strong measures designed to identify and stop document tampering and other illicit activities. He continued, “This regulatory advancement allows the government to improve services for both service providers and final users within the transportation sector.”
The system’s launch was marked by a formal inauguration ceremony attended by senior government officials, representatives from the Ministry of Transport and Logistics, the Artificial Intelligence Institute, and transport sector stakeholders.
The IFTMS is anticipated to be pivotal in transforming Ethiopia’s transportation systems digitally, which aligns with the country’s objective of enhancing service provision and administration via technological advancements.
BY ESSEYE MENGISTE
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD FRIDAY 11 APRIL 2025
Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc.
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