Somalia: Puntland and UAE-based Company sign deal to expand Bossaso port

Somalia’s autonomous state of Puntland signed an agreement on Thursday with a UAE-based company in a move to expand the port of Bossaso, its commercial hub, Horseed Media reports.
The multi-million dollars long-awaited project was signed by the Puntland Minister of Ports and Marine transportation Abdullahi Jama Salah and the managing director of Divers Marine Contracting L.L.C that will implement the project, Mr Abdullah Darwiish.
Present at the ceremony, Puntland President Abdiweli Mohammed Ali said that the expansion project of Bossaso harbour was part of his plans when he was coming to office.
” Today is one of the historical days for all the people of Puntland since one of the promises i made has come to real…. My government is determined to continue to improve the economy and infrastructure.”
After the expansion, the pier capacity will be doubled and it will be able to receive larger ships, officials have said.

Located in North-eastern Somalia on the Gulf of Aden coast, Bosaso is the third largest city in the country and it is the economic heart of Puntland State with a major seaport.
Very Close to the Gulf of Aden, it became an important commercial point of entry, and according to International organisations it has also served as a refuelling station for maritime transport between the Red Sea and Persian Gulf.
The Port of Bosaso does not only serves its residents but is also the main gateway for the other regions. Goods that are imported are transported to countries such as Ethiopia.
The town’s economy has grown rapidly since the start of civil war in the country and before it was regarded as a ‘‘remote’’ area by the former Military government. Only local traders and businessmen used the port to export goods to neighbouring Arab countries.
Last year, Bosaso became the first city in Somalia to establish relations with a city in the United States of America, Minneapolis.
Horseed Media