
Thursday January 30, 2025

Hargeisa (HOL) – Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed
Abdillahi Irro returned to Hargeisa on Thursday after concluding a three-day
official visit to the United Arab Emirates, where discussions focused on
investment in natural resources, agriculture, and job creation for youth.
During the visit, the president and his delegation, which
included Somaliland’s Foreign Minister Abdirahman Dahir Aden, met with senior
UAE officials, including the Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister, and
Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Economy, and Employment. The delegation also held
meetings with representatives from six UAE government agencies to explore
avenues for economic cooperation.
“We discussed with UAE leaders economic development,
investment in livestock and agriculture, and how the UAE government could
invest in our country’s natural resources, including minerals and oil,” said Foreign
Minister Abdirahman Dahir Aden.
According to the minister, UAE officials expressed a willingness
to make substantial investments in key sectors of Somaliland’s economy. The
talks also focused on job-creating initiatives to address youth unemployment, a
growing concern in the region.
The UAE, which maintains a representative office in Hargeisa,
has been a long-term economic partner of Somaliland, particularly through major
investments in infrastructure projects such as the expansion of the Port of
Berbera. Somaliland also operates a diplomatic office in the UAE, reflecting
their close bilateral ties.