Danish shipping line services MAERSK has begun operating in Somali’s Mogadishu Port.
Mogadishu Port management announced that the shipping company started operations at the port on Saturday last week.
The port administration said on this was a major development for their port and will create both business and employment for the people of Somalia.
In a statement, the Mogadishu Port Administration said: “Mogadishu Port Authority is pleased to inform Somali people and businesses that MAERSK Line, a global leader in shipping services working in more than 130 countries, will start calling on Mogadishu port. Mogadishu Port Authority congratulates Maersk for the new service and welcomes it at Mogadishu port.”
The statement added: “The start of service by MAERSK Line, which is based in Denmark, is testament to the growing economic opportunity of our country and clear demonstration of world interest in doing business with Somalia. It is hoped that it will encourage companies such as Evergreen, China Shipping Line and others to call on Mogadishu port in near future.”
“Furthermore, MAERSK Line decision to establish operations again at Mogadishu port, many years after the collapse of state institutions in the country, is a positive impact of the economic and security progress achieved by Somali nation and institutions. The company joins other international partners already operating at Mogadishu port such as MSC and CMA-CGM companies, the second and third largest container transporters in the world, respectively.”
“MAERSK Line call on Mogadishu port is another commercial opportunity for Somali people and businesses that would enable us to easily export national goods to every region of the world and import essential items. Also, it introduces competition at the port in terms of freight charges as demanded by Somali business community and in response to the economic policy of the Federal Government of Somalia in its effort to rebuild the country.”
Maersk Line is a Danish international container shipping company and the largest operating subsidiary of the Maersk Group, a Danish business conglomerate. It is the world’s largest container shipping company by both fleet size and cargo capacity, serving 374 offices in 116 countries.
Mogadishu Port, which is key to Somalia’s international trade has been operated by Turkish company Albayrak since 2014.
MAERSK is the sixth company to resume services in Somali port since the return of relative calm mainly in south-central Somalia
The move is set to grow the economy of the country by providing the avenue to export products from Somalia mainly livestock and farm produce.
