MOGADISHU, SOMALIA – Somalia’s Minister of Ports and Maritime Transport, Abdulkadir Mohamed Nur, held talks with Saudi Deputy Minister of Transport and Logistics Services, Dr. Rumaih Al-Rumaih, on the sidelines of the second Maritime Transport Conference, with both sides stressing the need to strengthen maritime cooperation.
At the heart of the discussions was a shared interest in boosting trade and regional economic development through closer port and logistics collaboration. Minister Nur outlined Somalia’s long-term strategy, including modernizing key ports, creating a free economic zone, and upgrading transport infrastructure to improve trade routes across the Horn of Africa.
For Saudi Arabia, the talks align with Riyadh’s wider logistics ambitions under Vision 2030, which seeks to position the kingdom as a global transport and trade hub.
Both officials underscored that a durable partnership could open the door to joint investments and strategic projects that would not only benefit Somalia and Saudi Arabia, but also strengthen regional stability through economic growth.
Somalia sits along one of the world’s busiest maritime corridors, the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean, making its ports strategically important for Gulf nations seeking secure and efficient trade routes.
While details of concrete agreements were not disclosed, the meeting signaled intent from both Mogadishu and Riyadh to elevate maritime ties into a long-term economic partnership.