The Minister for Trade and Industry of the Federal Government of Somalia Md. Khalif Abdi Omar has yesterday visited the Turkish embassy in Mogadishu, where he met with Turkish Ambassador to Somalia Amb Mahmet Yilmaz.
Accompanied by officials from the Ministry, the Minister discussed with the Ambassador the acceleration and completion of the economic and trade cooperation agreement between the Governments of Somalia and Turkey (TEPA) which is crucial for economic growth, employment creation, trade and investment in both countries.
They agreed to set up a technical committee to work on the amendment and finalization of the agreement before it was signed.
The two sides also discussed the trade balance between the two countries, the promotion of exports and the creation of trade markets for Somalia’s products, especially the harvest of crops. Somalia’s agricultural products are sold directly to Turkish markets.
Md. Khalif Abdi Omar, commended the brotherly government of Turkey and its people for their positive role in the development and reconstruction of Somalia and hoped that the completion of the TEPA agreement will be achieved as soon as possible.
The two countries have been working on the agreement for some time now. On his part, Ambassador Mahmet Yilmaz praised the Somali Minister of Trade and Industry for his efforts to develop the economy and trade in Somalia and said the government was committed to always standing by its brothers in Somalia.
He stressed that the TEPA agreement will enhance economic and trade cooperation between Somalia and Turkey.
BY OSMAN HUSSEIN ALI
