Somalia Vows to Turn EAC Membership into Trade and Investment Gains

GOOBJOOG NEWS | MOGADISHU: Somalia will seek to turn its membership of the East African Community into greater trade, investment and job opportunities, Commerce and Industry Minister Jamal Mohamed Hassan has said.

Speaking at the East Africa Business Council (EABC) CEOs Trade and Investment Roundtable in Mogadishu, the minister said regional economic integration should deliver practical benefits for businesses and ordinary people.

The meeting brought together business leaders from Somalia and across the EAC, providing a platform to discuss opportunities for stronger commercial ties and investment across the region.

Jamal said Somalia was committed to using its EAC membership to expand trade, attract investment and strengthen the private sector, with job creation among the government’s key priorities.

He stressed the importance of closer links between businesses across East Africa, saying deeper regional integration should create new opportunities for companies and contribute to broader economic growth.

Somalia became a member of the East African Community in March 2024, joining the regional bloc as it seeks to integrate its economy into the wider East African market.

For Somalia, membership provides access to a regional market of more than 300 million people while also creating opportunities to attract investment and diversify trade. However, translating membership into economic gains will depend on improving infrastructure, strengthening trade systems and ensuring Somali businesses can compete effectively within the regional market.

The Mogadishu meeting comes as the government seeks to deepen private-sector engagement and position Somalia as a more active participant in East Africa’s growing trade and investment networks.