Hong
Kong–based American business developer Robby Zirkelbach has set up small firms
in South Sudan, Iran and North Korea. But Somalia was too risky even for the
former U.S. Marine sniper with a stomach for adventurous investments, until he
stumbled upon the country’s north, the self-declared Republic of Somaliland.
There, he sees promise in a land shattered by war.
Kong–based American business developer Robby Zirkelbach has set up small firms
in South Sudan, Iran and North Korea. But Somalia was too risky even for the
former U.S. Marine sniper with a stomach for adventurous investments, until he
stumbled upon the country’s north, the self-declared Republic of Somaliland.
There, he sees promise in a land shattered by war.
After a
walk through the bustling, dust-filled market at the center of the region’s
capital, Hargeisa, and a trip to the developing port city of Berbera,
Zirkelbach has decided to “dip a toe” into the developing market. He has
identified electronics as an area where his company would like to invest, and
he isn’t alone.
walk through the bustling, dust-filled market at the center of the region’s
capital, Hargeisa, and a trip to the developing port city of Berbera,
Zirkelbach has decided to “dip a toe” into the developing market. He has
identified electronics as an area where his company would like to invest, and
he isn’t alone.
Prospective
investors are flocking to a part of Somalia that most of the world doesn’t
recognize as a separate entity, attracted by its strategic geography, relative
stability and mineral wealth. Such recognition is driving its next big economic
hope.
investors are flocking to a part of Somalia that most of the world doesn’t
recognize as a separate entity, attracted by its strategic geography, relative
stability and mineral wealth. Such recognition is driving its next big economic
hope.
UAE-based
DP World is redeveloping Berbera Port on the Horn of Africa to accommodate
modern supertankers, a development that could open northern Somalia — or
somaliland — to the large markets of neighboring Ethiopia and Kenya. Wassim
Haroun, CEO of Conser, a regional engineering and development firm, sees
potential in the northern Somali desert and is currently building a road
connecting Berbera and Ethiopia.
DP World is redeveloping Berbera Port on the Horn of Africa to accommodate
modern supertankers, a development that could open northern Somalia — or
somaliland — to the large markets of neighboring Ethiopia and Kenya. Wassim
Haroun, CEO of Conser, a regional engineering and development firm, sees
potential in the northern Somali desert and is currently building a road
connecting Berbera and Ethiopia.
One you
get over the misconception that Somaliland may be unsafe, you open your eyes to
the vast potential this country and what its people can achieve.
get over the misconception that Somaliland may be unsafe, you open your eyes to
the vast potential this country and what its people can achieve.
Wassim
Haroun, CEO, development firm Conser
Haroun, CEO, development firm Conser
And Faiza
Dubbe, a partner at regional firm SomOil Company who was born and raised in
undivided Somalia and moved to Canada as a refugee in 1986, has now returned to
Somaliland to invest in an oil and trading business. She chose the separated
region over southern Somalia that is still controlled by the federal
government, because Somaliland — unlike the south — has maintained stability
and held democratic elections for years.
Dubbe, a partner at regional firm SomOil Company who was born and raised in
undivided Somalia and moved to Canada as a refugee in 1986, has now returned to
Somaliland to invest in an oil and trading business. She chose the separated
region over southern Somalia that is still controlled by the federal
government, because Somaliland — unlike the south — has maintained stability
and held democratic elections for years.
“Once you
get over the misconception that Somaliland may be unsafe, you open your eyes to
the vast potential of this country and to what its people can achieve,” says
Haroun.
get over the misconception that Somaliland may be unsafe, you open your eyes to
the vast potential of this country and to what its people can achieve,” says
Haroun.
That the
peace in northern Somalia coexists with the legacy of decades of war is evident
on the streets of Hargeisa as the call to afternoon prayers during Ramadan rings
out. Men shutter their shops and bring their prayer rugs to the mosque, walking
through row after row of building blocks festooned with barbed wire. Guards
with AK47s manning checkpoints pray in the road rather than abandoning their
posts.
peace in northern Somalia coexists with the legacy of decades of war is evident
on the streets of Hargeisa as the call to afternoon prayers during Ramadan rings
out. Men shutter their shops and bring their prayer rugs to the mosque, walking
through row after row of building blocks festooned with barbed wire. Guards
with AK47s manning checkpoints pray in the road rather than abandoning their
posts.
The
Somali civil war began with military resistance to the dictator Siad Barre in
the 1980s. The Barre government collapsed in 1991, plunging the country into a
vicious conflict. Somaliland declared its independence that year. As the crisis
worsened, Puntland, a region in central Somalia, declared autonomy in 1998,
though it still remains loyal to the federal government.
Somali civil war began with military resistance to the dictator Siad Barre in
the 1980s. The Barre government collapsed in 1991, plunging the country into a
vicious conflict. Somaliland declared its independence that year. As the crisis
worsened, Puntland, a region in central Somalia, declared autonomy in 1998,
though it still remains loyal to the federal government.
