Somalia Seeks Stronger Agricultural Investment Ties with Iraq

GOOBJOOG NEWS | MOGADISHU: Agriculture and Irrigation Minister Mohamed Abdi Hayir has urged Iraqi investors to play a greater role in developing Somalia’s agricultural sector, saying stronger foreign investment could boost food production, create jobs, and support the country’s wider economic recovery.

Speaking in Mogadishu after meeting a delegation led by Major General Amjad Al Awadi, head of Iraq’s State Fund for Martyrs, the minister highlighted Somalia’s “vast and underutilized” natural resources, including fertile farmland, major river systems, rich fisheries, and one of the largest livestock populations in East Africa.

“Somalia has the land, the climate, and the capacity to produce for both domestic needs and export markets,” Mareye said. “By working with our Iraqi brothers, we can transform agriculture into a driver of stability, livelihoods, and national development.”

He noted that Somalia already exports high-quality sesame and lemons and is seeking investment to expand cultivation, processing, and export infrastructure.

The minister also framed the potential partnership as a continuation of longstanding ties between Somalia and Iraq, calling the relationship “historic and rooted in mutual respect.”

Members of the Iraqi business delegation said they are evaluating investment prospects in commercial farming and agricultural trade and would identify areas of cooperation following the visit.

Somalia has prioritized agriculture as a key pillar of its economic renewal strategy, viewing private investment and international partnerships as essential to reducing reliance on food imports and strengthening long-term food security.