June 11, 2011 · 9 Comments
HARGEISA, Somaliland – The U.S. Agency for International Development’s Partnership for Economic Growth was launched today in Hargeisa. The Partnership is working with Somalis to improve the environment for investment and expand economic opportunities. “We believe in the resiliency and entrepreneurial spirit of the Somali people,” said Acting USAID East Africa Mission Director, John Power. “This partnership will not only benefit the local economy, but will also promote stability.”
Partnership for Economic Growth will work with a broad range of government authorities and private sector to assess strengths, weaknesses and investment opportunities in the most productive Somali value chains, including livestock, fisheries and gums and resins. The Partnership will improve access to business development services, especially for women entrepreneurs. It will support the development of regulatory policies to do business better and ultimately attract more investment.
In today’s launch ceremony, representatives from the Ministries of Commerce, Industry and Tourism, Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, the Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture, financial institutions, private sector, women entrepreneurs and local associations attended. “The private sector is the pillar of the economy,” said Abdulahi Dirie Jama, Secretary General of the Chamber of Commerce. “It is a source of revenue for the government and a major supplier of livelihood for residents.”
For more information, please contact: Partnership4EconGro@hotmail.com or
Marybeth McKeever, mmckeever@usaid.gov
or visit: http://eastafrica.usaid.gov
Tags: East Africa, Somalia, Somaliland news, Somalilandpress, USAID
I like how the Somaliland governments past and present always include women groups in whatever project they undertake.
First and foremost we thank USAID to make an initiative to come to Somaliland in an attempt to enhance the relationship between the two nations through partnership, cooperation and development. Somaliland is a Muslim and an African emerging nation, and what is USAID is required to understand and to recognize is that Somaliland proffers a fresh start in its relationship with African and Muslim nations around the world. Somaliland is ready to erase the horrible image of black hawk down that they have nothing to do with it, that USA encountered in Mogadishu, and to have genuine partnership with USAID. Somaliland could be the stepping stone to rectify that image and cement a lasting and rewarding relationship with USA on behalf of all Somalis.
To begin with, Somaliland Must demand from USAID to have in its senior executive in Horn of Africa , a Muslim American and African American executives in its management, who have enough background understanding of the reality of a Muslim and an African emerging nations. USAID have to understand that Somaliland is almost like OBAMA in a form a country which is difficult to label it as one form of view.
Like OBAMA, it is white, black, extremely modern and ancient at the same time. It is liberal, centrist and at the same time extremely conservative in its entire outlook.
You might ask, why I said “White” among others, is because the culture on the ground don’t see the color of the skin, but it sees the character and the behaviors behind it, something akin, what Malcolm X encountered in Mecca, after he were exposed all human race’s variations in one setting, that later cost his life after he refrained to be a racists and reject the Nation of Islam’s rigid and Un-Islamic view.
The experiences USAID will benefit from Somaliland can help its growth and the same time watered down the recent unhealthy image of USA in respect to Africa and the Muslim world. Our advice to USAID is to have some tolerance in its engagement with Somaliland and not misread its vibrant outlook in the scheme of things as baloney.
Hope you all the best. Welcome to a new partnership unlike no other in recent memory.
Does anyone know anything about the somaliland passport that is being recognised by UK, and Europe or whether somalilander can travel with their somaliland passport unlike the forged somali passport that is banned in many places due to lack of government control
Hadu waxasi dhacdo Somalilandba iminka ayay Ingriiska iska dhiibe donaan salamad lol.
The US government is creating new initiatives in the region to support development and democracy without getting too much involved in regional politics and issues…it already has its hands full in places such as Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya and possibly very soon in Yemen and Syria…the good thing about this project us that now Washington knows very well about our case and the region will no longer be another holocaust ground for Mogadishu…otherwise they will be blasted away like Gaddafi's rusted Russian toys.
We have to welcome and grab opportunities like this by the horns. Baby steps yes, necessary steps of course.
The U.S. government has also invited the chairman of Somaliland's National Electoral Commission (NEC)…thats important to our democracy and support from Washington is crucial.
We need Peace Corps of 1960s with good intention and engage Somaliland for the good of its people. No CIA hidden agenda here. This peace corp I am talking about is essential for our youth to learn more of what will be future peace corp of young american carry with them. This will improve the American image in the middle east [Somaliland is part of it]. I will imagine some of you will say "What hell he is talking about", but fellow citizen hold-on. I foresee there are many advantages to this. We should not under-estimate the phobia that certain people within have Americans, I believe they will change when they see the advantage those P.C will bring to us.
No Somaliland is not part of the Middle East. And it is better off not being part of that battle ground.
"CIA's hidden agenda" is better than being part of "Somalia", I mean really can we get worse than the most failed state in the world? Right now Somaliland needs anything to help her get away from Somalia, chaos, pirates, warlords, etc…
We will sacrifice for the sake of our children.
Abraham – we are talking geography here and Somaliland is part of that.
Kayse – I am glad you agree the rest of my comments, except CIA's hidden agenda.