AD Ports Group, a United Arab Emirates-based port development firm, has signed a memorandum of understanding with Somalia’s Ministry of Fisheries and Blue Economy to help the East African country increase the output of its marine fisheries.
The agreement aims to make upgrades to Somalia’s port infrastructure, and integrate the infrastructure with existing and planned seafood-processing plants, according to a statement by AD Ports Group.
“AD Ports Group will explore supporting Somalia’s positive economic growth through potential investments and other collaborations in the nation’s fisheries and maritime sectors,” AD Ports Group Managing Director and Group CEO Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi said in a release.
The collaboration also aims to establish a maritime monitoring center and satellite stations in Somalia, and set up a technical vocational training school for those within the country’s maritime sector.
“By joining forces with AD Ports Group, we are laying the groundwork for long-term growth and sustainability in our port infrastructure and fishing industries,” Somalia Minister of Fisheries and Blue Economy Ahmed Hassan Aden said. “This collaboration will not only enhance our capacity but also drive economic development and provide new opportunities for our communities reliant on the maritime economy.”
The company’s interest in the Somalian seafood industry comes at a time when the country, which has more than 3,300 kilometers of coastline, has introduced a new fisheries law and licensing requirements that allows both local and international seafood investors to harvest, process, and export seafood.
“This initiative aims to promote sustainable fishing practices, enhance regulatory transparency, and support local economic development within Somalia’s maritime boundaries,” Somalia Fisheries Director General Abdi Dirshe said at the time. “The introduction of these guidelines marks a significant milestone in Somalia’s efforts to regulate its tuna fishing industry responsibly.”
AD Ports aims to work with Somalia in enforcing and implementing those maritime regulations.
An injection of new investments would be welcome for Somalia, as the country's economy reels from the impacts of ongoing civil unrest and violence.
Although Somalia has an annual fish output potential of 200,000 metric tons (MT), according to the U.S. International Trade Administration, the country’s fishers caught just 6,000 MT of fish in 2022. Foreign industrial vessels caught even more than domestic fishers, catching 13,000 MT that year.
Both Somalia and AD Ports Group, which also has ports and logistics contracts in such African countries as Egypt, the Republic of the Congo, Angola, and Tanzania, have not provided timelines for the implementation of the agreement.
