Mogadishu (Dawan Africa) — Delegates from across the Horn of Africa convened in Mogadishu on Wednesday for the opening of the Horn of Africa Initiative Forum, with the goal of accelerating economic growth and deepening regional trade integration. This marks the first time Somalia is hosting the forum, a significant milestone as the country assumes the chairmanship of the regional economic platform.
The two-day meeting has drawn high-level representatives from across the region. Delegations from Djibouti, Kenya, and South Sudan are participating in person, while Ethiopia, Eritrea, and Sudan are represented virtually.
According to a statement from Somalia’s Ministry of Finance, the host nation is represented by Finance Minister Bihi Iman Egeh, Minister of Commerce Mahamud Adan Gashan, and Directors General from both ministries.
Despite geographical proximity and shared interests, intra-regional trade among Horn of Africa countries remains among the lowest in Africa—accounting for only 6% of total trade within the bloc. The forum aims to reverse this trend by promoting joint economic strategies and investment initiatives.
“In the face of global economic uncertainty, trade and investment are essential drivers of national and regional growth,” said Minister Egeh. “They also create meaningful opportunities for development and employment that directly benefit our citizens.”
This is the first official meeting of the Horn of Africa Initiative to take place in Somalia since the country assumed leadership of the forum—an event widely seen as a reflection of Somalia’s expanding role in regional diplomacy and economic cooperation.