I would like to share with you the following conference that the Swedish govt would like to motivate the diaspora to be engaged to bridge their experience towards the development of Somalia and establish the real know how!
How much do you about this conference and what can you contribute inorder to be fruitful and successful!
Let me hear your suggestions and feed back!
Consider that everybody is a part and no one is excluded at all!
How much do you about this conference and what can you contribute inorder to be fruitful and successful!
Let me hear your suggestions and feed back!
Consider that everybody is a part and no one is excluded at all!
Conference on business opportunities in Somalia, 10-11 June
DRAFT AGENDA
8.30-9.00 Registration
9.00-9.50 Opening session
Welcome speech by Ms. Ewa Björling, Minister for Trade (10 min)
Speech by Representative of the Government of Somalia (10 min)
Speech by Representative of the Government of Somaliland (10 min)
Speech by Representative of the Government of Puntland (10 min)
Speech by Representative of the Government of Juba (10 min)
9.50-10.00 Comments/Questions
Presentation on Somali business opportunities
Presentation by Business Sweden (10 min)
Presentation by AFN Consulting (10 min)
10.20-11.00 Refreshment break
Case studies
11.00-11.15 Presentation by Saab (15 min)
11.15-11.30 Presentation by company from Somalia or Somaliland or… (15 min)
11.30-12.00 Panel discussion on successful investments/business environment
Participants: Saab, Somali company and Somalia Chamber of Commerce and Somaliland Chamber of Commerce.
12.00-12.15 Introduction of Breakout sessions
12.15-14.00 Networking lunch
14.00-15.45 Breakout sessions
Group I: ICT/Telecom/Banking & Finance
Group II: Energy (solar/wind/oil & gas)
Group III: Infrastructure/Construction/Transport/Security Health care/Life
Science
Refreshments will be served
16.00-16.30 Plenary session
Key findings/reports from the breakout session
16.30-16.45 Somali business woman – Success story
17.00-17.15 Concluding remarks by …
17.30-19.00 Reception
Draft – Somali business opportunities
A Somali trade and investment conference: Stockholm, Sweden 10 June 2014
Purpose
Highlighting business opportunities that are emerging across Somalia. The conference will also provide a platform where current constraints to trade and investment can be addressed and the ways to overcome them can be made visible.
Providing a platform for new business-partnerships to evolve that will benefit Somali and Swedish business and ultimately Somali society.
Acknowledging the potential that private and non-public actors have, and the important role they should play, in contributing to prosperity, development, state building and job creation.
Context
The situation in Somalia, which has long been ravaged by war, is more hopeful than for many years. There are now greater chances than for quite some time for Somalia to take the path towards long-term peace and stable state-building. Investor confidence is growing, and new opportunities for business are emerging across Somalia. The Somali diaspora have been key drivers of this development, and will continue to have an important role in supporting economic regeneration. The recent positive developments also provide opportunities for other investors who have not earlier operated in the Somali market.
Somalia’s recovery will require long-term and substantial assistance from the international community. Issues of job creation, economic growth and private sector development will be at the core of Somali recovery, reconstruction and sustainable development.The new Swedish development cooperation strategy for Somalia 2013-2017 concentrates on supporting Somali long-term reconstruction, with focus on human security and subsistence, democracy and human rights, as well as on health and gender equality. The Strategy also focuses on initiatives to promote the diaspora’s opportunities to contribute to Somalia’s reconstruction.
To seize the current opportunities, and to prepare for future engagement, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs will host a day-long Somali trade and investment conference on 10 June 2014.
Background
The security environment has generally improved and the political situation is cautiously promising and continuously progressing. These processes provide a window of opportunity to explore a broader engagement with Somali society. Trade, investment and business can present mutually beneficial gains that transcend divisions and unify previously unfamiliar actors. The business community furthermore has a strong interest in strengthening the capacity of the state and contributing to a secure, stable and dynamic society. Job creation will provide opportunities for Somalis who are currently experiencing unemployment and disenfranchisement. Socially responsible business practice would contribute to building and strengthening institutions and is in the best of interest to the entirety of Somali society and its Swedish partners.
Trade, enterprise and innovation are not new phenomena, but rather they form a tradition in the Somali territories. The entrepreneurialism is demonstrated by recent growth in business despite a seriously challenging political and security climate. One testimony to this growth is the telecommunications sector, where a multitude of operators are active and some of the cheapest mobile phone tariffs in the world are present. As the environment is presently changing in the right direction, the business opportunities and progress will increase accordingly.
Interest in Somali business has been voiced by the Somali diaspora in Sweden and by Swedish companies alike. Following similar interest the UK organised a Somali trade and investment conference on 8 May 2013. A similar event was organised in Nairobi later the same month.
Limitations
There are however constraints that needs to be alleviated, mainly related to security, infrastructure and the limited capacity of legal and government structures. The conference will make it possible to address such issues directly and specifically related to business. It should also be noted that the Swedish government currently advises against all travels to Somalia. Still, the conference can significantly advance the purposes articulated earlier. The Somali business potential will be showcased and future possibilities for trade and investment will be explored and promoted. The conference should be seen as a first step in a process that will be adjusted taking into consideration future developments in Somalia.
Participants
The main participants will be the diaspora business community; Swedish companies; representatives from Swedish authorities, The Federal Government of Somalia, Somaliland, Puntland and Juba Interim Administration and people from the business community in Somalia. Participants from a variety of sectors are desirable, both representatives from sectors that are attractive to Swedish industry, as well as representatives from sectors that can provide relevant information about the Somali business climate. The representation of Somali businesswomen is particularly important to highlight the role of women in the emerging Somali economy.
Programme
The preliminary schedule for the day will feature a joint session in the morning with keynote speakers addressing Somali development and business opportunities in a general and comprehensive manner. After lunch participants will be able to attend sessions with particular focus on different sectors or themes. To conclude the day the participants will gather together once more to reiterate and share the lessons learned from the day. Despite the array of potentially interesting discussions and presentations time will allocated in the programme for networking and match-making.
Priority sectors for the conference
The event will highlight sectors with particular potential to attract interest and investment. The subsequent sectors constitute some areas with potential and great shared interest between Somali and Swedish participants.
1. Information and communications technology is an already strong business sector that is central to Somali growth and the fulfilment of a service based economy. The promise of the sector is evidenced by strong recent private-sector led growth. The progress is driven by a strong demand for telecom technology and a variety of related innovative services. Mobile solutions are used for money transfers. Money-remittances and informal banking systems are the lifeline for many Somalis. Swedish companies have extensive knowledge, skill and experience in the field and there are great potential for opportunities of investment and exchange between Swedish and Somali business communities.
2. Energy. The oil and gas sector a significant potential but has suffered from problems with investor protection and the security situation. Increasing numbers of international companies are now targeting the industry and there are high hopes to get revenues from the sector. Renewable energy solutions present viable commercial prospects. Wind energy could become a great source of energy on the longest coast-line on the African continent. Somalia is furthermore ideally placed to utilize solar energy.
3. Infrastructure, construction, transport and security. Construction is at high demand after decades of destructive conflict. Indeed, Mogadishu is currently experiencing a construction boom. It is a sector with great shared interest among public and private actors as well as Swedish and Somali business communities. The old ports are being reinvigorated and new ports are being built. The increased trade through the ports will have spill-over effects on the transportation industry with the increase in goods moving through the territories.
4. Health care/Life Science. The stated intention is to move away from the emergency-level health provision that has been the norm in the Somali territories for many years to more mainstream, national health systems. Sweden offers some of the best health care and elderly care in the world. Swedish life science companies are global leaders in their field. There is a great potential for opportunities of investments and exchange between Swedish and Somali business communities.
DRAFT AGENDA
8.30-9.00 Registration
9.00-9.50 Opening session
Welcome speech by Ms. Ewa Björling, Minister for Trade (10 min)
Speech by Representative of the Government of Somalia (10 min)
Speech by Representative of the Government of Somaliland (10 min)
Speech by Representative of the Government of Puntland (10 min)
Speech by Representative of the Government of Juba (10 min)
9.50-10.00 Comments/Questions
Presentation on Somali business opportunities
Presentation by Business Sweden (10 min)
Presentation by AFN Consulting (10 min)
10.20-11.00 Refreshment break
Case studies
11.00-11.15 Presentation by Saab (15 min)
11.15-11.30 Presentation by company from Somalia or Somaliland or… (15 min)
11.30-12.00 Panel discussion on successful investments/business environment
Participants: Saab, Somali company and Somalia Chamber of Commerce and Somaliland Chamber of Commerce.
12.00-12.15 Introduction of Breakout sessions
12.15-14.00 Networking lunch
14.00-15.45 Breakout sessions
Group I: ICT/Telecom/Banking & Finance
Group II: Energy (solar/wind/oil & gas)
Group III: Infrastructure/Construction/Transport/Security Health care/Life
Science
Refreshments will be served
16.00-16.30 Plenary session
Key findings/reports from the breakout session
16.30-16.45 Somali business woman – Success story
17.00-17.15 Concluding remarks by …
17.30-19.00 Reception
Draft – Somali business opportunities
A Somali trade and investment conference: Stockholm, Sweden 10 June 2014
Purpose
Highlighting business opportunities that are emerging across Somalia. The conference will also provide a platform where current constraints to trade and investment can be addressed and the ways to overcome them can be made visible.
Providing a platform for new business-partnerships to evolve that will benefit Somali and Swedish business and ultimately Somali society.
Acknowledging the potential that private and non-public actors have, and the important role they should play, in contributing to prosperity, development, state building and job creation.
Context
The situation in Somalia, which has long been ravaged by war, is more hopeful than for many years. There are now greater chances than for quite some time for Somalia to take the path towards long-term peace and stable state-building. Investor confidence is growing, and new opportunities for business are emerging across Somalia. The Somali diaspora have been key drivers of this development, and will continue to have an important role in supporting economic regeneration. The recent positive developments also provide opportunities for other investors who have not earlier operated in the Somali market.
Somalia’s recovery will require long-term and substantial assistance from the international community. Issues of job creation, economic growth and private sector development will be at the core of Somali recovery, reconstruction and sustainable development.The new Swedish development cooperation strategy for Somalia 2013-2017 concentrates on supporting Somali long-term reconstruction, with focus on human security and subsistence, democracy and human rights, as well as on health and gender equality. The Strategy also focuses on initiatives to promote the diaspora’s opportunities to contribute to Somalia’s reconstruction.
To seize the current opportunities, and to prepare for future engagement, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs will host a day-long Somali trade and investment conference on 10 June 2014.
Background
The security environment has generally improved and the political situation is cautiously promising and continuously progressing. These processes provide a window of opportunity to explore a broader engagement with Somali society. Trade, investment and business can present mutually beneficial gains that transcend divisions and unify previously unfamiliar actors. The business community furthermore has a strong interest in strengthening the capacity of the state and contributing to a secure, stable and dynamic society. Job creation will provide opportunities for Somalis who are currently experiencing unemployment and disenfranchisement. Socially responsible business practice would contribute to building and strengthening institutions and is in the best of interest to the entirety of Somali society and its Swedish partners.
Trade, enterprise and innovation are not new phenomena, but rather they form a tradition in the Somali territories. The entrepreneurialism is demonstrated by recent growth in business despite a seriously challenging political and security climate. One testimony to this growth is the telecommunications sector, where a multitude of operators are active and some of the cheapest mobile phone tariffs in the world are present. As the environment is presently changing in the right direction, the business opportunities and progress will increase accordingly.
Interest in Somali business has been voiced by the Somali diaspora in Sweden and by Swedish companies alike. Following similar interest the UK organised a Somali trade and investment conference on 8 May 2013. A similar event was organised in Nairobi later the same month.
Limitations
There are however constraints that needs to be alleviated, mainly related to security, infrastructure and the limited capacity of legal and government structures. The conference will make it possible to address such issues directly and specifically related to business. It should also be noted that the Swedish government currently advises against all travels to Somalia. Still, the conference can significantly advance the purposes articulated earlier. The Somali business potential will be showcased and future possibilities for trade and investment will be explored and promoted. The conference should be seen as a first step in a process that will be adjusted taking into consideration future developments in Somalia.
Participants
The main participants will be the diaspora business community; Swedish companies; representatives from Swedish authorities, The Federal Government of Somalia, Somaliland, Puntland and Juba Interim Administration and people from the business community in Somalia. Participants from a variety of sectors are desirable, both representatives from sectors that are attractive to Swedish industry, as well as representatives from sectors that can provide relevant information about the Somali business climate. The representation of Somali businesswomen is particularly important to highlight the role of women in the emerging Somali economy.
Programme
The preliminary schedule for the day will feature a joint session in the morning with keynote speakers addressing Somali development and business opportunities in a general and comprehensive manner. After lunch participants will be able to attend sessions with particular focus on different sectors or themes. To conclude the day the participants will gather together once more to reiterate and share the lessons learned from the day. Despite the array of potentially interesting discussions and presentations time will allocated in the programme for networking and match-making.
Priority sectors for the conference
The event will highlight sectors with particular potential to attract interest and investment. The subsequent sectors constitute some areas with potential and great shared interest between Somali and Swedish participants.
1. Information and communications technology is an already strong business sector that is central to Somali growth and the fulfilment of a service based economy. The promise of the sector is evidenced by strong recent private-sector led growth. The progress is driven by a strong demand for telecom technology and a variety of related innovative services. Mobile solutions are used for money transfers. Money-remittances and informal banking systems are the lifeline for many Somalis. Swedish companies have extensive knowledge, skill and experience in the field and there are great potential for opportunities of investment and exchange between Swedish and Somali business communities.
2. Energy. The oil and gas sector a significant potential but has suffered from problems with investor protection and the security situation. Increasing numbers of international companies are now targeting the industry and there are high hopes to get revenues from the sector. Renewable energy solutions present viable commercial prospects. Wind energy could become a great source of energy on the longest coast-line on the African continent. Somalia is furthermore ideally placed to utilize solar energy.
3. Infrastructure, construction, transport and security. Construction is at high demand after decades of destructive conflict. Indeed, Mogadishu is currently experiencing a construction boom. It is a sector with great shared interest among public and private actors as well as Swedish and Somali business communities. The old ports are being reinvigorated and new ports are being built. The increased trade through the ports will have spill-over effects on the transportation industry with the increase in goods moving through the territories.
4. Health care/Life Science. The stated intention is to move away from the emergency-level health provision that has been the norm in the Somali territories for many years to more mainstream, national health systems. Sweden offers some of the best health care and elderly care in the world. Swedish life science companies are global leaders in their field. There is a great potential for opportunities of investments and exchange between Swedish and Somali business communities.
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