NAIROBI (Halbeeg New) – Somaliland Investment Forum aimed to showcase the investment opportunities available in the region to foreign investors has concluded in Nairobi and called for foreign investment.
Top Somaliland officials, businessmen and investors from East African countries attended the forum which was organised by the Somaliland liaison office in Nairobi.
Addressing the participants of the forum, Somaliland’s Foreign affairs minister, Yasin Mohammed Hiir said his unrecognised country is interested in opening its doors to foreign investors.
“Somaliland and other East African countries especially Kenya share so much in common. We have a historical bond that needs to be nurtured so as to empower our people through trade and investment,” said Hiir.
Mr. Hiir invited all foreign investors to use Somaliland’s opportunities in abundance.
“Whilst Kenya is advanced in many aspects and is a lead country in this region and continent, Somaliland is a nascent and emerging jurisdiction. For the time being, Somaliland is a net importer of nearly everything we consume. It, therefore, beats logic that Somaliland should import what it can get from Kenya next door from countries as far as in the South American continent,” he observed. “Come, you are our brothers. Come work with us in building the great nation of Somaliland by investing.”
Hiir said Kenya and Somaliland should reinforce their pursuit for mutual interest on the basis of shared vision and common values. “We need to expand cross-border trade and investments between our two countries for mutual gain”.
“The large numbers of Kenyan citizen who are working and living in Somaliland as well as the businesses that have been established in Somaliland are testimonies of our attractiveness and hospitality. This in essence necessitates a reciprocal action of some sort from the Kenyan side so we can expand these gains. We can have a convergence between our objectives and priorities in order to increase prosperity for our citizens through enhanced trade and investment,” said the minister.
On his part, Somaliland’s representative in Kenya Omar Bashe said Kenya must tap into the opportunities available in Somaliland.
He said it is unfortunate there are no direct flights from the national carrier Kenya Airways to Somaliland capital Hargeisa adding that there is so much Kenya can export to Somaliland but that remains untapped.
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