The Federal Government of Somalia is planning to build a new port 35 km from Mogadishu, to boost maritime trade and reduce congestion at the current Mogadishu port.
The new port, according to the government, will be part of a broader plan to modernize the country’s economic infrastructure, such as the construction of an international airport and a special trade zone.
The Manager of the Port of Mogadishu, Mohamed Ali Nur, in an interview with Alcaraby, said that the existing port has become an important player in the Somali economy and regional trade.
The port manager said the new development plans will help the port’s revenue reach $500 million per year by 2030, which he said will create more than 25,000 direct and indirect jobs.
Recently, the Port of Mogadishu was rated the best port in East Africa, ranking second in the Sahel and Sahara countries, as shown in a report on port performance assessment issued by the World Bank.
However, congestion of large vessels remains a challenge, which is one of the reasons for the new port plan. The government also said that it will focus on protecting imported goods, preventing illegal and expired goods, and stopping drug smuggling attempts, which will strengthen the country’s economic and health security.
In 2024, the Mogadishu port will handle and export nearly 2 million tons of goods, including food, fuel, construction materials, and livestock and fish exports.
