Eighty percent of Somali importers and exporters use foreign passport in their business transaction hence impacting negatively on the horn of Africa country.
Somali Trade and Industry Minister Mohamed Abdi Hayir “Maareye†has urged Somali traders to acquire the Somali passport.
Speaking at a trade development conference held in the capital Mogadishu on Sunday, Hayir said that majority of Somali nationals who do business within and outside the country hold foreign passports which they use in import and export transactions with overseas businesses.
Mr Hayir who met with several Chambers of Commerce in East Africa and UAE and Somali business people in those countries, said that records showed that over 80% of the Somali business people used foreign passports to do business transactions.
The Minister said that the move made Somalia not to have proper business records with such countries, making it unable to make good business deals.
Mr. Hayir urged all Somali nationals who are involved in international trade to take the Somali passport and use it in transacting businesses deals.
The Minister assured the business people that his Ministry will help them in passport processing and negotiating with foreign businesses.
