Experts say fisheries agreement with Türkiye to contribute to Somalia’s development

By Mohamud Ismail Kulane

MOGADISHU (AA) - A fisheries and blue economy agreement signed between Somalia’s Ministry of Fisheries and Blue Economy and Türkiye’s leading institution OYAK will contribute to the African country’s development, said Somali experts.

Abdinasir Hussein Farah, an expert trained in Maritime Transport and Management Engineering in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, and Abdurrezzak Mahmud, a maritime logistics and transport management expert, spoke to Anadolu about the agreement.

Farah said the deal is an important step toward the sustainable use of Somalia’s marine resources and the development of the blue economy, highlighting its strategic and economic dimensions.

He noted that the agreement holds not only economic significance for Somalia but also the potential for institutional and structural transformation.

“The agreement aims to increase revenues derived from marine resources and to ensure that these resources are managed in an orderly and sustainable manner,” he said.

Farah said the deal is expected to create new direct and indirect job opportunities, particularly in fisheries activities, fish processing industries and related service sectors.

- ‘Somali people generally see Türkiye as a reliable partner’

Mahmud said the agreement offers significant opportunities for small-scale Somali fishers, and if implemented in a fair and inclusive manner, fishers could gain access to modern equipment, vocational training and broader markets.

Stressing that Somalia has not previously signed an international fisheries agreement of this kind, Mahmud said, “The Somali people generally see Türkiye as a reliable partner, and if the agreement is managed transparently, it is viewed as an important opportunity for development.”

- Fisheries, blue economy cooperation between Türkiye, Somalia

​​​​​​​ OYAK and Somalia’s Fisheries and Blue Economy Ministry signed a strategic cooperation and services agreement Wednesday to cooperate in the fisheries sector.

The agreement aims to ensure that fisheries activities in Somalia are carried out under a centralized, sustainable and fully registered framework.

As part of the agreement, SOMTURK, a company established within the framework, will be responsible for managing all licensing processes related to fisheries activities in Somalia’s exclusive economic zone. Fishing permits in Somali territorial waters will be issued exclusively by SOMTURK.

The agreement will enable the sustainable use of Somalia’s rich marine resources while providing the Turkish fisheries sector with access to Somali waters, which are considered among the world’s most abundant fish reserves.

Somalia has enjoyed close economic, diplomatic and military ties with Türkiye since then-Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan visited Somalia in 2011, the first non-African leader to do so in more than 20 years.

Türkiye has strong historical ties with Somalia on the principle of “win-win” relations, including more than 150 development aid projects by the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) since 2011.

Türkiye also has its largest embassy in Africa in Mogadishu and built its largest overseas military facility there to train the Somali National Army.