Thursday 23 Jan
Prime Minister Dr. Moustafa Madbouly welcomed Somali Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre and Ambassador Ali Abdi Awari to Cairo on Saturday. The meeting, also attended by Egyptian Deputy Assistant Foreign Minister Ibrahim Al-Khouly, focused on bilateral relations between Egypt and Somalia.
Dr. Madbouly emphasized the
longstanding and strong ties between the two nations, spanning political,
security, economic, and cultural spheres. He expressed Egypt's commitment to
further strengthening these relationships.
At the start of the meeting, the
Prime Minister expressed his satisfaction with this visit, which followed the
recent meeting between Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and Somali President
Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, during his visit to Egypt on August 14th.
The Prime Minister reaffirmed
Egypt's unwavering support for Somalia's unity and progress, noting the
promising future ahead for the Somali people.
Madbouly reaffirmed Egypt's
commitment to supporting Somalia in all areas. He highlighted Egypt's efforts
to strengthen economic, trade, and investment ties with Somalia, emphasizing
the mutual desire to foster cooperation and facilitate investment.
Dr. Madbouly expressed hope for a
future business forum in Somalia that would bring together Egyptian and Somali
business leaders to explore new opportunities. He added, “We are eager to
export the goods and merchandise that Somalia needs. We will work to ensure
these products are readily available to meet the needs of the Somali people.”
The Prime Minister commended the
recent progress in Egypt-Somalia relations, including the launch of direct
flights and the opening of the Egyptian embassy in Mogadishu.
In turn, The Somali prime minister
expressed his gratitude for the warm welcome and emphasized the strong
historical ties between Egypt and Somalia. He also expressed appreciation for
Egypt's support during a challenging period when Somalia faces attempts at
division.
Abdi Barre noted the longstanding
and multifaceted cooperation between Egypt and Somalia, highlighting Egypt's
consistent support for Somalia.
He emphasized the various areas
of cooperation, including political, commercial, investment, cultural, and
educational spheres. Somalia expressed its pride in these relations and its
desire to strengthen them further.
Abdi Barre also highlighted
recent milestones in Egypt-Somalia relations, such as the launch of direct
flights and the opening of the Egyptian embassy in Mogadishu.
The Somali prime minister
outlined the significant progress Somalia has made in recent years,
particularly in security, economic, and social development. He highlighted the
growth in GDP and public revenue, as well as the improved security situation,
which he attributed in part to Egyptian support. He also presented proposals
for further strengthening the relationship between Egypt and Somalia.
Abdi Barre highlighted the
potential of Somalia's livestock and fisheries sectors for the Egyptian market
and invited Egyptian investors to explore opportunities in these areas.
The Somali Ambassador expressed gratitude for Egypt's efforts to strengthen bilateral relations, emphasizing the long-standing historical ties between the two countries dating back to the Pharaonic era.
