On 15 July 2021 UNIDO ITPO Italy and UNIDO Somalia hosted online the presentation of the catalogue “Business opportunities in Somalia”, dedicated to both Italian and international companies interested in trade, import-export, investment, technology transfer, dealership agreements and joint ventures in multiple sectors of the country.

The catalogue was notably prepared by a team of experts from both UNIDO ITPO Italy and the UNIDO Somalia Programme in the framework of the project “Agro-technology development for Economic Growth in South and Central Somalia”, funded by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS) and implemented by UNIDO, in collaboration with the Federal and state level Ministry of Commerce and Industry, the Somali Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the respective Enterprise Development Units in Mogadishu, Kismayo, Baidoa and Beletwayne.

Moderated by UNIDO ITPO Italy Investment Promotion Expert Francesco Pallocca, the conference started with the opening remarks of Stefano Stirpe, Programme Coordinator of the AICS Office in Mogadishu, presenting the initiatives for sustainable development of the Italian cooperation agencies based in Somalia; Abdiaziz Ibrahim Adan, Director General at the FGS Ministry of Commerce and Industry, with an introduction to the local major industrial sectors, also in terms of food and agribusiness for export activities; and Ygor Scarcia, UNIDO Industrial Development Expert & Officer in Charge to Somalia, who highlighted the successful results achieved by the project with an outlook to its future outcomes.

The technical session of the panel saw the interventions of Prof. Ciise Halane, Deputy Director of the Somali Chamber of Commerce and Industry, introducing the private sector of SMEs in Somalia and their potential for internationalization; Abdullahi Abdi Addow, Director of Planning, Policy and Economic Development at the FGS Ministry of Fisheries and Maritime Resources, with an overview of the Somali fishery sector; Mustaf Ibrahim Adan, Acting Director of Planning and Policy at the FGS Ministry of Livestock, Forestry and Range, with a focus on dairy, meat, poultry and animal products; and Mohamed Mohamud, Technical Advisor at the FGS Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation, emphasizing the needs of the sector for technology transfer and capacity building for infrastructures towards food security in the country.

In the third session of the event Francesco Pallocca illustrated in detail the catalogue “Business Opportunities in Somalia”, with its 38 industrial profiles divided into four key sections – namely agriculture; fishery; building, construction and logistic; livestock, poultry and dairy – plus a fifth section devoted to other sectors, such as energy and general trade.

Finally, the discussion concluded with an interactive Q&A session, during which participants had the possibility to pose questions directly to the panelists in order to further knowledge-exchange. Ultimately, the event succeeded in its aim of strengthening business collaboration between Italy and Somalia towards inclusive and sustainable local industrial development.

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