Somalia has for the first time in two decades directly exported livestock to Egypt, a move that will boost the country’s economy.
A ship carrying over 2,000 herd of camels arrived at the strategic port of Suez this week after the Egyptian government lifted a ban on the livestock.
‘’This is a major step forward towards our livestock exports. It will boost the revival of our economy,’’ said Somalia’s minister of Livestock, Forestry and Range Mr Saeed Hussein Iid, who witnessed the arrival of the livestock at the port.
Last year, Somalia and Egyptian authorities reached an agreement with the Egyptian authorities to resume livestock exports to the middle-eastern country.
About two decades ago, Somalia was among the African countries that Egypt imposed a ban on exports of live cattle, sheep and goats from.
Livestock is the mainstay of the Somali economy, contributing 40 percent to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
Somalia recorded one of its highest exports of livestock in a single year since the collapse of the central government in 1991 by transporting 5 million livestock to markets in the Gulf of Arabia, according to FAO.
HM
