SOMALIA - The African Phoenix - Recovery and Development Info

Mogadishu Port Container Terminal (MPCT) is a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the Somalian Government engaged in port operations and at present operating the Mogadishu Port.

MPCT has been awarded the 15 year concession to exclusively handle all incoming and outgoing containers at the Port of Mogadishu. Since the contract was awarded, MPCT has grown into a productive and applauded port operator in the region.

Thanks to the Somalian Government and its people Mogadishu Port is once again recognized as the key center for international trade in the country. With its well established reputation for efficiency, reliability and professionalism in dealing with its customers, MPCT has a bright future and will continue to participate at the forefront of regional growth.

Future MPCT plans at Port of Mogadishu include port expansion with an investment of US$ 170 Million and it will be initiated upon the approval of Somali Government.

MPCT, in collaboration with its mother company Simatech, plans to set up a merchant marine academy in Mogadishu to train local youth as skilled seafarers through qualified trainers from abroad in order to create employment opportunity in worldwide shipping companies.

Mogadishu Port Container Terminal acts as a reliable gateway to international trade network. It is committed to provide efficient services, reliable facilities, modern infrastructures and overall quality standards in line with market growth as well as business partners’ expectations.

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Simatech pledges to support Somalia

Simatech functions in strict compliance with the UAE Commercial Law and International shipping practices, and adheres to all UN and US/EU regulations. Simatech is one of the largest feedering companies in Asia; focusing on providing feedering services to ports in the Middle East, the Indian Subcontinent, South East Asia, China and Africa. With its head office located in Dubai and Singapore,Simatech has regional offices all across Asia.

Sima Marine is a sister company of Simatech’s, and is specialized in agency, liner, feeder and logistics solutions.

Sima Marine has offices in Iraq, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Kenya, Tanzania and Somalia. These affiliate companies are incorporated under laws and regulations of the country where they operate. Each agency unit is headed and staffed by experienced and professional personnel. Sima Marine Offices provide an array of agency services to renowned and reputable lines who trade worldwide and carry strict checks before awarding agency business.

Additionally, Simatech is developing a modern container terminal in Mogadishu. Simatech and Somalia Port Authority have developed a program to modernize Mogadishu Port, which is the largest and leading international port in the region. Mogadishu is recognized as a hub center for international commerce in the country. Mogadishu. Port Container Terminal (MPCT) has been awarded to handle all incoming and outgoing containers at the Port of Mogadishu. Since the contract was conferred, MPCT has grown into a productive and applauded port operator of the region. MPCT’s future plans at Port of Mogadishu includes port expansion with an investment of US$ 170 Million which will be initiated upon the approval of Somali Government.

Mogadishu Port Container Terminal also plans to set up a merchant marine academy in Mogadishu to train local youth as skilled seafarers through qualified trainers from abroad in order to create employment opportunity in worldwide shipping companies. Mogadishu Port Container Terminal acts as a reliable gateway to international trade network. It is committed to providing efficient services, reliable facilities, modern infrastructures and overall quality standards in line with market growth as well as business partners’ expectations.

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As security conditions improve in Mogadishu, Somali businessmen and returning expatriates have opened modern restaurants offering lobster and various kinds of fresh fish at the Lido and Jazira beaches.

“There are a limitless number of restaurants in Mogadishu, but we came up with something unique,” said Qasim Mohamed Nur, marketing director at Lido Seafood Restaurant, which opened in August.

“Lido Seafood Restaurant stands out among other typical restaurants because it lies on the beach and includes entertainment facilities and tourist attractions allowing visitors — both local residents and foreigners — to enjoy the area’s beautiful view while sampling seafood dishes,” he told Sabahi.

Nur said the restaurant’s customers include businessmen, politicians, government employees, returning Somali expatriates and regular workers from the area. He said the most popular dishes include lobster, tuna and shark.

Demand for seafood restaurants

“During the weekends, the restaurant is packed with customers,” Nur said. “Lido Restaurant overlooks the beach, far from the noise of the city. Customers like to enjoy their seafood meals in a wonderful atmosphere, enjoying the fresh air and the beautiful ocean view.”

Daud Abdirahman, a customer at Lido Seafood Restaurant, said many seafood lovers frequent the seaside restaurant.

“I love seafood and come here twice or three times a week to have fresh seafood at this restaurant,” he told Sabahi while eating fresh lobster with pasta. “This is the best restaurant of choice because of its unique location overlooking the ocean.”

Ahmed Sheikh Mohamed, reception manager at Mogadishu Seafood Restaurant in Hamarweyne, said there is a high demand for seafood restaurants.

“Somalis, particularly residents of coastal cities such as Mogadishu, love having seafood because they grew up in an area that has relied on fishing for ages,” he told Sabahi.

Tourism projects in Mogadishu

Ahmed Hassan, who teaches history and culture at Mogadishu University, says Mogadishu has witnessed dynamic commercial activity due to improved security.

“There are a number of luxury hotels and modern restaurants that have opened their doors throughout the city,” he told Sabahi. “Somali expatriates who have returned from abroad have contributed to driving development forward and creating job opportunities for hundreds of unemployed people.”

“Life has returned to normal in Mogadishu and I hope the city manages to restore its past glory and that in the near future it turns into a tourist destination as it was in the 1980s when the city was one of the most prominent tourist spots in Africa,” he said. “Mogadishu does not lack the potential to become a tourist destination, but it needs more recreational and tourist-related projects, in addition to reinforcing those that already exist, to strengthen the tourism sector.”

Hassan called on the new federal government and the Municipality of Mogadishu to pay attention to the city’s tourism sector because it can generate revenue and attract sizable foreign investment. “It is not a pre-requisite to start massive projects, as small ones are capable of growing if there is ambition and seriousness,” he said.

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Somalia Mobile Operator Forecast, 2010 - 2015:

Somalia to have 6.7 million mobile subscriber connections in 2015 with Hormuud Telecom taking 14% market share.

IEMR’s Mobile Operator Forecast on Somalia provides key operational metrics for Somalia’s wireless market and is one of the best forecasts in the industry. We provide five-year forecasts at the operator level going out to 2015. We also provide quarterly historical and forecast data starting in 1Q2003 and ending in 4Q2012. Operators covered for Somalia include: Telcom Somalia, Hormuud Telecom Somalia Inc., Telsom Mobile, Somafone FZ LLC, NationLink Telecom, and Golis Telecom Somalia. Our Mobile Operator Forecasts are updated quarterly and are available for one-time delivery or through regular updates.

IEMR’s Global Mobile Operator Forecast covers 50+ metrics on 800+ mobile operators in 200+ countries. Our forecasts are based on our proprietary, country-specific forecasting models. These models deploy multiple regression analysis and cross-impact matrices that estimate relationships between subscriber data, technology use and deployment data, overall economic and demographic changes expected in a particular country; and relate these to company operational and financial metrics.

Companies Covered in this Country Mobile Operator Forecast

Telcom Somalia
Hormuud Telecom Somalia Inc.
Telsom Mobile
Somafone FZ LLC
NationLink Telecom
Golis Telecom Somalia

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Somalia starts campaign to send 1 million children to school

The Somali authorities are launching Sunday a campaign aimed at getting one million children in the war-torn nation into school, the United Nations' children's agency said.

The Go 2 School initiative is being launched simultaneously in the capital Mogadishu and in Hargeisa and Garowe, the main cities of the autonomous and semi-autonomous northern states of Somaliland and Puntland respectively.

The campaign, which will run for three years "aims to give a quarter of the young people currently out of the education system a chance to learn," Unicef said.

At an estimated total cost of $117 million (89 million euros) for the three-year period, the initiative will include construction and renovations of schools, teacher recruitment and training, technical and vocational training for older children and special programmes for pastoralist communities.

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DVK Founder Deepak Kuntawala topped off a week of meetings with Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and significant others as the chief host of a spectacular event at the Jumeirah Carlton in Knightsbridge.

The event was to launch the DVK Africa Development Fund, which will provide investment to various countries from the east of the continent to the Horn of Africa. At the invitation of the Somalian President, His Excellency Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, Deepak Kuntawala allied with one of his longtime partners, Hussein Al-Ishaqi, co-chairman and founder of Somalia’s Direct Investment Advisory, and founder of two funds dedicated to investment in Somalia, to develop the funds and create an infrastructure to enable them to operate.

Deepak began the evening by talking of how he was born in Africa and had always hoped to return and add value. Two years ago he was invited by the Kenyan Vice President to create a number of projects in his country, the first of which were investment vehicles for trading commodities.

The two funds DVK is setting up are:

1) a one billion dollar fund to bring development and build a viable infrastructure in key African nations like Somalia, and

2) a general fund for trading designed to include the diasporas interested in investing in East Africa.

The first fund has already raised a third of its target, with Qatar and Canada as major investors. This fund is going to be regulated and Shariah compliant. International law firm Mishcon de Reya will be establishing it and two of its senior lawyers were present at the Jumeirah event. Senior auditors will have oversight.

Deepak mentioned in passing that top Indian companies like Reliance and others from China and the Gulf are also focusing hard on the ports of east Africa to establish a dominant position there, eyeing up the commodity-rich region.

DVK has been selected to establish and run the funds since the company has a successful track record in Africa, China and other territories.

His Royal Highness, the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia sent a personal message for the President of Somalia which Deepak read out at the event. Modest Hussein Al-Ishaqi, who has been mandated by various Middle East royal families to raise investment, got up briefly on stage to thank DVK.

Deepak told the audience that the scope of the fund will widen to include commodities, trade, finance and private aviation with a view to flights being made available to Mecca from Islamic African countries.

One of the night’s other speakers was Adam Yusuf, co-founder of the African Development Fund. His story was moving. Born in Kenya to Somalian parents, Adam came to the UK as a refugee.

He expressed passion about the new emerging Africa. He reminded the audience that Africa held the largest gas reserves in the world and also warm, welcoming people who always want to help. Real Co. also spoke of investing in farms and agriculture in Somalia and Kenya.

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