Hirshabelle state president, Mohamed Abdi Waare on Monday met with Qatar’s Ambassador to Somalia, Hassan Hamza in Mogadishu.
The two discussed key issues related to development cooperation and means to extend Qatar’s projects in Hirshabelle.
President Waare praised th government of Qatar for its positive role in addressing the infrastructure gap in Somalia.
Somali minister for planning and International cooperation, Jamal Mohamed Hassan and other Qatari officials have also attended the meeting.
Presidential palace and new roads in Hirshabelle
The president’s meeting with the envoy was aimed at concreting the state’s plan to build roads in Hirshabelle state.
Speaking to the media, late last year, president Ware expressed hope that his state would benefit from Qatar’s $200 million deal on infrastructure.
“We are carrying out plans to extend our administration in Hiiraan and Middle Shabelle region. Among agendas in the plan sheet are constructing Mogadishu-Johar roads, two state houses in Beledweyne and Jowhar town,” said Waare in December last year.
Hirshabelle state which is the youngest regional state in Somalia has not yet built presidential palace, parliament building and several other crucial government institutions.
Qatar’s infrastructure projects
Qatar and Somali federal government last year penned a $200 million infrastructure pact that will go towards the reconstruction of roads and government institutions.
“The deals are development oriented ones, they will be used in renovating roads building new infrastructure and creating employment opportunities for young people, some of these projects are already underway in some places will soon commence in other places,” Somali minister for planning and Investment, Jamal Hassan said during the signing of the agreement last year.
Some of the key aspects of the project include tarmac road linking the capital to Jowhar and Afgooye which are agricultural towns.
Qatar is among few countries is taking part the state rebuilding and reconstruction.
In 2017, Qatar Charity which is a humanitarian agency implemented over 290 projects including drilling wells, building education and health facilities and among other across Somalia, according to agency’s annual report.
Turkey and Qatar have been Somalia’s closest friends since 2010.
The nation has maintained a neutral stance in he standoff between Qatar and Saudi UAE led coalition that cut diplomatic ties with Qatar
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