Germany has pledged a 10 million euro grant to the Horn of Africa Initiative (HoAI) to promote development and integration in the region. The grant is designed to enhance the Initiative's aspirations in improving infrastructure, promoting trade, and building social cohesion. The HoAI was chaired by Ethiopia's Finance Minister Ahmed Shedie, figures including Djibouti's Finance Minister Ilyas Moussa Dawaleh; Somalia's Finance Minister Bihi Iman Egeh; Kenya's Treasury Cabinet Secretary, Njuguna Ndung’u (PhD); and IGAD’s Chairperson Workneh Gebeyehu (PhD), as well as representatives from Germany, the UK, and the EU attended. "This gathering shows the full strength and convening power of this Initiative," said the German representative, speaking during a ministerial meeting of the countries, which took place on the sidelines of the AfDB annual meetings opened in Nairobi, Kenya, last week.