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Somaliland: Foreign Minister says Chinese Investment in Somaliland will facilitate the development of the country
August 21, 2011 · 37 Comments
HARGEISA (SomalilandPress)–Somaliland Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. Mohamed Abdillahi Omar, today gave more details about the trilateral agreement between China, Ethiopia and Somaliland that the government pre-agreed last week in China. The Minister have said, that Somaliland has not any economic power, and he underlined that this agreement was all about the investment of the economic infrastructure including the improvement of port of Berbera and the construction the road that will connect Somaliland and Ethiopia.
SomalilandPress reporter Abdikadir Elmi Kahin (Shiine) was able to ask the Foreign Minster several questions regarding this trilateral agreement that has western countries questioning the merit of the agreement. Dr. Omar held a press conference at the Presidential palace where several other reporters were also able ask questions pertaining to the agreement and the China trip that he went with the President.
Q: Minister, the triangular agreement with Ethiopia and China was about expanding Berbera port, the construction of a rail road system and to refine the oil and gas of Ethiopia in Berbera, please give as further details on how things will happen?
A: We have been in negotiation with the Chinese firm on rebuilding our country’s infrastructure for some time and the expansion of Berbera Port. Our administration’s goal is to make Berbera Port a regional hub for all commercial trades and the agreement that we signed with Petro Trans Company will enable us to reach that goal. We have reach preliminary agreement with the Chinese firm, however the financial and procedural portion of the agreement has not been confirmed and we expect that to be done in the near future. Somaliland does not have the capability to carry out such a massive project and therefore we have decided to cooperate with international firms. Chine as you all are aware of has invested in countries like Ethiopia, Sudan, Southern Sudan and even Kenya. I believe that the investment of China on Somaliland is reliable and could play a big role on the development of the country.
Q: Does your government have any other deals on the table thus far?
A: The President led a delegation to the Gulf regions several months ago and at that trip our government presented the investment opportunities that Somaliland has to offer to the Gulf regions. United Arabs Emirates and Kuwait were two countries that the president and his team presented the investment opportunities in Somaliland and we are still waiting to hear from those countries
Q: Minister, since this agreement is a triangular agreement between Somaliland, Ethiopia and China and Somaliland is not a recognized country, it is said that Ethiopia has taken the responsibility of this project?
A: This agreement will be between Somaliland and the investors of China. Somaliland has independently signed this agreement with the Chinese Firm and we hope that Ethiopia and all our other neighbors will be able to use the services of Berbera Port. Ethiopia is our neighboring country and we have got a mutual bond in the security, education and commercial sector as well.
Q: Will this new agreement of Chinese firm help in the achieving of recognition from China?
A: We are now preparing to build a good relationship with China and that is the introduction, so if we succeed this cooperation and the new relationship, than we will put the plan to send China a representative from Somaliland and that is one of our major issues a Foreign Affairs to do.
Q: Is this agreement between Somaliland and China or Somaliland with investors?
A: In today’s economic world, corporations are the primary contacts in each country therefore this agreement is between Somaliland and Chinese owned firm. So we penned this agreement as an investment corporation.
Somalilandpress | 21 August 2011
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By Mo Guled
Tags: Berbera Port, Ethiopia, Petro Trans company, Somaliland, Somalilandpress, Trilateral Agreement China
Readers Comments (37)
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I don't understand why certain individuals of our society are negative about this agreement which is good for our country. What exactly they want? Do they want us to be vegatable and watch our youth roam around the cafe shopt and streets with no hope in horizon, like we have been 20 years that we have been a nation? That is not what we have elected this government of national unity. I was dismayed the former representative of Somaliland in Ireland who was interviewed by Horn Cable whom I believe is part of those who unrealistically critisize the infant government blindly and with hate of certain individuals holding some positions in this government, without looking the reburcussions of their statement. If that individual is a patriots as he claims, he should have done what he did last night.
I don't actually understand what he wants out of what he did?
UDUB party is bitter and sour about this deal like those in Pirateland. They (UDUB) are secretly Somali-weyn warlords. Their father is Egal, the man who hijacked Somaliland and took it to Mogadishu only to receive a banana and "muufo".
No Hamar has no banana nor muufo so they are secretly sucking the Somaliland blood like leeches. We have to be aware of haters like UDUB and fat man Qor-madow (buurane-buur madow).
I am not a Kulmiye fan but they are doing something for this nation and I will applaud them as long as they are on the right path to development, intergeration, democracy and putting Somaliland first.
Dr Omar needs to work on his foreign policies, many things are not clear and he needs to understand foreign policy is more than traveling, its time he produced documents, books, informations, billboards, videos and delivers Somaliland's message to the world.
Keysa,
I was not great a admirer of Mr. Egal, when he was alive, but to be fair to the man, he is not the one who took us to Mogadishu. Mr. Egal wanted us not to join Somalia, but he was over-whelmed by the people and he dis not have a choice at all, but to accept the will of the people.
We can kick around his sons, when they come up with crazy ideas, as they often to, but let us ask Allah to forgive Mr. Egal.
We can
Good job, but let us see that this deal materializes soon. So, that skeptics who doubts the truth of this deal (and seriousness of the government's willingness to do something) could eat their words up.
@ Kayse first of all leave the dead Egal alone may Allah less his soul and grant him jannat al fardoos secondly get your facts right without Eqal you nor your family would have been able to enjoy the freedom and the peace you have in Somaliland! enjoy and applause for the fact that your country is being sold at the moment to china and Ethiopia! and pack your stuff to leave as Ethiopia will be taking it over from Kulmiye!!!
Calm down Soma girl!
@ Yusuf I'm very calm walalo thank you I just wanted to express my views on this case and put some facts right
How is Somaliland being SOLD to Ethiopia and China? A logical explanation would be nice :)
Its being sold to ethiopia because since somaliland is not recognised country, it cannot sign any deal with china to extract oil and gas from the ogaden region of ethiopia. China can only make such a deal with ethiopia only and that means Ethiopia will have to take care of the import and export of those resources via berbera port., in other words Somaliland will just become like another kilil6 region and the dream for an independent sovereign country will be over. And secondly why is somaliland always eager to run after Ethiopia and securing Ethiopian interest and why are its citizens happy to associate themselves with Ethiopia rather than their fellow somalis. If ethiopia succeeds with its oil deal with china the benefit will be for her only and the revenue from that oil will be used to develop ethiopia and improve the living conditions of ethiopian people and not those of somaliland unless somaliland becomes part of ethiopia as i said already
It is those sitting in their comfortable western houses who are the loudest to oppose such a deal, not those who actual live in poverty and want their country to develop ! Boqoljireh is absolutely right ! certain people Just DO NOT WANT SEE DEVELOPMENT but just tit for tat calacaal rhetoric from a far !
Ask your self why are somalis soo behind in the world ?
Its time things got done !, Because, whatever the Outcome ,,,It cannot be worst than it is NOW !!
less criticism MORE Support.
WHY drag down a nation trying to climb out of a Well (cel)
Its simple. Think of the situation Somaliland is in NOW and has been for years !! then think of the steps ther govt are trying to do,,If you oppose it,,,,Then bring solutions NOT Criticism at ever given chance !!
Friends how could you be happy with Dr. Mohamed who mishandled the trip of the president to china. This guy was suppose to arrange VISA for whole Somaliland delegation to China. He must resign.
Yes this ugly bold dummy fruit cake must resign. South Sudan media money issue was his responsibility and China trip scandal was also his responsibility. How long we have tolerance for this mess.
In Buroa he is laughing stock this stupid minister they call him " dibigii bidaata lahaa".
@QuurbaJoogMan I agree things need to change for the better and not the worse soon Somaliland will be crying for its freedom from China and Ethiopia believe me it's has a hidden agenda and it will come out pls and pls look at the facts and for once lets learn to keep our emations outside this.. go back and look at all the publications around this issues and read between the lines!
Okay dear sister, would you like to explain to the rest us what you READ between the lines?
I definitely agree with QuurbaJoogMan, people are so negative and irrationally paranoid. Keep an open mind people, we don't have all the facts yet. Besides, stop the name calling and insulting the Minister. He is doing the best he can do.
God bless somaliland,, we are so close to the moon… inyarbaa ka hadhee hinjiya.
Somaliland delegation did not meet the Chinese officials but Ethiopians did meet the Chinese and we do not know their intention. The minister is not disclosing the reality of the situation. "Laaca aragtay laaga ma moogtahay"
This is the first time that Somalilanders are talking about what their government can do for their country for almost over 20 years. One could say that this is a progress. I am really standing by the initiatives of the new government in terms of sevving for its electors. For the last 20 years, there have been so many people, mainly young people who left their country due to lack of seeing a light through the tunnel and most of them died on their way to Libya. Today we are not taking about this issue- thank god; we are talking about rajo and hope for all Somaliland citizens. Can you see the difference between today and yesterday?
I was quite ashamed of myself being a Somali alder, when I was listening to someone who calls himself a Somaliland Diplomat based in Ireland. He was one of the uneducated diplomats I have ever listened to his arguments and his argument did not have any substances at all. I could read his mi9nd easily that all he wanted was a position from the current movement.
xeero and arab and saleeban You guys are nothing but haters and you are not Somaliladners SHAME on you
We only welcome rational criticism but not your NONSENSE!
Thanks Amal for Shutting Up these punch of camel bushers
The few angry mobs in here are from Pirateland and Gaajoland (Mogadishu). Don't pay them attention, they might think your muufo or a ship and kidnap you.
Laaca aragtaye laaga ma moogtahay!!!! Could you understand this Somali af Somali.
Somaliland Foreign Minister
Somaliland: Foreign Minister
Our Minister is doing great job and I praise him. Whoever does not like the way our government is doing their business should drink from the dead sea. Those haters and Puqlanders will see what Somaliland can do to develop. God, the almighty bless Somaliland and our government. We need to stop the negative comments.
Somaliland became Kilinka 6 aad of Ethiopia.
why r u on Somaliland page are some super Somaliland hater.Faqash neva give up lol
@Nuuh
Somaliland is a democratic country, RULED by the people. The Somaliland people voted this government in, the Somaliland people can vote them out and Ethiopia nor any other country can do anything about.
Also the Government runs on tax from the people, therefore it has to be accountable to the people, simple.
I personally support the efforts of these guys. Thinking outside the box is needed.
My fellow Somalilanders who comment on articles in this website, please avoid melting with those guy from Pugland and wicked haters who comment on each and everything SomalilandPress publishes while pretending Somalilanders. We need to screen them before we contribute the comments column. I believe we can smell and trace them.
Well done Somaliland and the current adminstration in a multitude of areas including economic development, democratization, capacity building, tax reformation and promoting the countries interests. This is a major mild stone for the country and we support the efforts of everyone involved in making it possible. Somaliland didn't get here thus far from taking advice from pirates, terrorist, camel herders and sabetors. Great job Somaliland's government and well done Hon. Foreign minister, you deserve amazing praise. God bless.
First of All : What i don't understand are those "so Call" Somalilanders that are living abroad and want to criticize its government and the potential development of their beloved country. As far as the normal "HATERS no need to mention who they are, all i can say to them is please stop worrying about what Somaliland is doing or done, worry about your own back yard and clean up your trash first before you criticize any one else. Remember Somaliland also belongs to the people that are still living their and surviving day by day to figure out, how they are going to eat and take care of their families tomorrow. Secondly be glad that the Chinese investors are taking the initiative to help and at the same time benefit from this investment, people need to understand what a free market and capitalistic society is all about. People need to stop being negative, we don't even have the facts or the details of the agreement because there is none!!! Just pray to Allah and ask allah to bless and protect our country from all evil and pray that this deal works for the favor of the people of Somaliland.
SomalilandPress Thanks
This is the link that made me believe Somaliland could progress:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/global-development/pove…
I think we should evaluate the achievement of the foreign minister but we shouldn't insult him personaly. The China trip is one of his acheivements and if that agreement come to practical it will be a success for all. But those who say Borco people say this and that. They should know that the weak point and backlash of Kulmiye government are those who came from Burco. Burco ministers and their business people mixed up things and they have nonotion of statehood, they are rather camel keepers who behave as if they siezed a foriegn country.
why every farah and halimo think they are politicians? why do they think any1 gives a F about their ideas…dont they know this is a professional government that people of the nation choose? haven't they being reading the news lateley and don't they know what silaanyo has done 4 me lately?
Excellent move