By Goth Mohamed Goth
At the UAE–Africa summit on Tuesday, Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdillahi Irro urged international investors to bring capital into the self-declared republic, emphasizing his government’s commitment to fostering a business-friendly environment.
President Irro stated that Somaliland is seeking investments in energy, electricity, maritime and blue economy industries, artificial intelligence, mining, and agriculture. He described the country as “a land of opportunity, an untapped market ready for investment.”
To demonstrate progress, he highlighted existing partnerships, specifically citing the Dubai-based DP World’s modernization of Berbera Port, the creation of a free trade zone, and the construction of a corridor linking Berbera to Ethiopia. Irro praised the company for making what he characterized as the largest foreign investment in Somaliland’s history.
DP World Chairman Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem endorsed Somaliland’s potential, pointing to its strategic location along major global trade routes and its proximity to Ethiopia, a landlocked nation heavily dependent on seaports. He noted that significant investment has established Berbera as one of the leading ports in the Horn of Africa.
Irro also highlighted Somaliland’s political history, noting that it declared independence before other regional states and remains the only part of the former union with Somalia to have directly elected its president.
This appearance marked President Irro’s second time at an international investment forum in the United Arab Emirates as his administration continues to seek foreign capital for infrastructure and economic growth. Somaliland has functioned as a de facto independent state since 1991 but has not gained international recognition.
