Prime Minister Abdi Farah Shirdon Welcomes Foreign Investment

MOGADISHU-- Prime Minister Abdi Farah Shirdon has welcomed important foreign investment in Somalia after the Cabinet unanimously approved the agreement between Soma Oil and Gas Exploration and the Ministry of Natural Resources. The agreement will see Soma Oil and Gas begin a seismic survey of 60,000 sq. km of territorial water and limited onshore areas.

“Foreign investors see the huge steps that Somalia has taken and are keen to invest here. We have to continue to work hard as a government to attract investment and demonstrate that Somalia is open for business” said the Prime Minister, who was chairing the weekly Council of Ministers in Villa Somalia.

The Prime Minister also briefed Cabinet on his recent trips to Geneva and Turkey. In Geneva he addressed the UN Human Rights Council who strongly welcomed Somalia’s commitment to protecting and enhancing human rights, as well as the founding of 27th August as Somalia’s national Human Rights Day.

Briefing the Cabinet on his meetings in Turkey, the Prime Minister spoke of the “special relationship and bond” between Somalia and Turkey and outlined plans for the establishment of a joint committee between the two countries to examine how best Somalia and Turkey can work together for the benefit of both countries.