Somaliland Leader Says He Expects a Trade Deal With Israel After Recognition

The president of Somaliland told Reuters in an interview on Tuesday that he expects to sign a trade deal with Israel after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu signed a decree recognizing the Republic of Somaliland, a de facto independent state within Somalia’s internationally recognized borders.

“At the moment, there is no trade, and there is no investment from Israel. But we are hoping 100% (for) their investment, their trade, and hopefully we will engage with the business people and the government of Israel soon,” Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi said from the World Government Summit in Dubai.

“Somaliland is a very rich country in resources – minerals, oil, gas, marine, in agriculture, energy, and other sectors…. We have meat, we have fish, we have minerals, and they (Israel) need them. So trade can start from these main sectors. The sky is the limit,” he added.