Somaliland: It Is Time to View the Horn of Africa Afresh

HABA Press Release

Hargeisa - As many international companies start to reassess their view of possible business opportunities throughout Africa the Horn of Africa Business Association (HABA) is pleased to report increased commercial activity in the Horn of Africa.

A rash of regional developments from the extension of fibre optic connectivity and broadband thanks to the likes of Somcable (www.somcable.com) to the generating of renewable energy by Reykavik Geothermal (www.rg.is) in Ethiopia are helping Africa's terra incognito to be viewed anew.

Recent developments such as the opening of a make-shift British Embassy in Mogadishu, with the Netherlands and EU set to follow suit is indicative of a return to a degree of normality that will help foster further commercial activity.

"Perception and misconception play a very large part in business confidence and it is encouraging that international and Diaspora businesses are eager to learn more about the region and its opportunities. HABA is delighted to see the British Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) in conjunction with the Department for International (DFID) organising a Somali Business & Investment event in London (8/5/2013). This is a positive initiative that we whole heartedly support and are happy to be part of. Anything that allows foreign investors and the Diaspora to have a better understanding of the real situation on ground has to be a good thing." – Mohamed Ali, Operations Director.

HABA (www.ha-ba.com) as a non-political organisation is committed to helping others realise the enormous economic potential of the region and works assiduously to address the current knowledge deficit.

"Reliable economic data is often in short supply, so as in all business activity there is always a degree of risk. We urge Reykavik Geothermal Reykavik Geothermal companies large and small to endeavour to do their due diligence and constantly work to be culturally sensitive and pragmatic in approach. The Horn is a fascinating region, ripe with potential, with a near unrivalled strategic location. From Berbera to Omdurman there is a wealth of commercial activity that belies the myth that this part of Africa is poor. If you take the HABA region is a whole it is a massive market with approximately 300 million people and rising. Yes there are difficulties, but with our own regional market and sector intelligence HABA's view of things is one of grounded optimism." - Mark T Jones, Executive Director, HABA.

HABA is proud to have been at the forefront of highlighting opportunities in the field of hydro-carbons, but also believes that there is even greater potential in the area of renewable energy, particularly solar. In the coming years it sees a number of sectors proving particularly attractive to both local and foreign investors:

• Agriculture and agro-processing
• Construction and Real Estate
• Fisheries
• Livestock
• Transport & Logistics

All of these sectors should go some way to alleviating the greatest of the region's challenges, that of youth unemployment. HABA believes that with a continued spirit of pragmatism, co-operation and mutual respect attitudes towards the region will continue to change for the better.

HABA works in the following countries: Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Somalia and Somaliland (The Horn of Africa), Kenya, South Sudan, Sudan, and Uganda (The Greater Horn) as well as forging further business links being forged with Burundi, Rwanda and Tanzania.

The Story

Our five key areas HABA wants the world to give the Horn Region a look afresh HABA wants the world to give the Horn Region a look afresh of activity are:

• Offering a bespoke specialist business consultancy.
• Garnering and disseminating information about particular markets and sectors in the Horn, the Greater Horn and adjacent regions.
• Raising greater public awareness of the business opportunities in Africa.
• Leveraging on commercial/ trading relations; key relationships with embassies and high commissions internationally as well as with governmental entities throughout the Horn, the Greater Horn and East Africa.
• Providing a dynamic means by which people with a common interest can interact with a view to establishing and developing purposeful business relationships.

For further details visit the HABA website HABA or contact:

Mohamed Ali – Operations Director
E-mail: mohamed@ha-ba.com
Mark T Jones – Executive Director
E-mail: marktjones@ha-ba.com
PRESS RELEASE
Issued 28th April 2013

Somaliland: Government Hosts Two Days Ethio-Somaliland Bilateral Talks

A broad based delegation from Ethiopia is in the country for bilateral talks in Hargeisa starting on Monday 29th April.

The two days talks to be held at Ambassador Hotel in Hargeisa are geared towards not only cementing but enhancing various agreements existing between the two neighbouring countries.
The 14 members of the Ethiopian delegation which arrived in the country both by air and on land consists of representatives from the departments of Foreign affairs, Finance, Transport, Public works, Energy-Electricity, Aviation and commerce.

Also in the delegation are officials from the Jig-jiga town based Somalia Zone five regional administration which is the main conduit between Ethiopia and Somaliland.

The Hargeisa talks are a follow up of earlier ones in the Ethiopian town of Dire-Dawa which was at ministerial level and ensued with the creation of specialized technical committees from the two countries that were mandated with coming up with clear guidelines to guide the relationship between their two countries as per particular areas and or sectors of expertise.

The two countries have maintained a long standing relationship especially in the areas of security, diplomacy and commerce with the landlocked Ethiopia utilizing the port of Berbera for 90% of its imports and exports not to mention that it is one of the few countries to maintain a full diplomatic mission in Hargeisa.

With the expected anticipation that the on-going bilateral talks shall enhance and cement existing bilateral relations various analysts point out that Ethiopia which is the main beneficiary of this relationships needs to act further as concerns Somaliland's quest for recognition.

Gudoonka Baarlamanka Oo Laalay Mooshin Ka Dhan Ahaa Heshiiskii Soomaaliya Iyo Somaliland

Muqdisho - Gudoonka baarlamaanka Soomaaliya ayaa maanta laalay mooshin todobaadkii hore ay soo jeediyeen qaar ka mid ah xildhibaanada Soomaaliya, kuna saabsanaa heshiiskii dowladda Soomaaliya iyo maamulka Somaliland ku gaareen magaalada Ankata ee dalka Turkiga.

Gudoomiye ku-xigeenka labaad ee baarlamaanka Soomaaliya Mahad Cabdalle Cawad ayaa maanta baarlamanka u sheegay in mooshinkaas aan la horkeeni doonin mudnayaasha, howshaasna loo dhaafayo xukuumadda oo weli ku guda jirta.

 

“Mudanayaal nagama sugeysaan in mowshinkii laga keenay heshiiskii dowalda Soomaaliya iyo maamulka Somaliland halkaan looga doodo, shaqadaas waxaa u xilsaaran hay’ada fulinta dowlada ee xukuumada” ayuu yiri Mahada Cabdalle Cawad.

 

Gudoomiye ku-xigeenka labaad ee baarlamaanka Soomaaliya Mahad Cabdalle Cawad ayaa ka doodista arrintaas ku tilmaamay ku xadgudub awoodii baarlamaanka, wuxuuna sheegay inaan gudoonku u arkin mid sharci ah.

 

Mahad Cabadalle Cawad ayaa sheegay in baarlamaanku xaq u leeyahay inuu dalbado in qaar ka mid xubnihii heshiiskaas wax ka saxiixay ay horyimaadaan si ay su’aalo u weydiiyaan.

 

Mudanayaal ka tirsan baarlamaanka Soomaaliya ayaa olole ugu jirey iney gudoonka usoo gudbiyaan mooshin ay ku dalbanayeen in mudanayaasha baarlamaanku ay kaga doodaan heshiiska kasoo baxay shirkii ay magaalada Ankara ku yeesheen madaxda dowlada Soomaaliya iyo Maamulka Soomaaliland.