Mogadishu, Somalia – Somalia and Ethiopia signed a trade agreement on Thursday during the first meeting of the Joint Ministerial Committee (JMC) in Mogadishu. The agreement is seen as a fresh start for expanding all areas of mutual benefit between the two countries.
The JMC meeting was co-chaired by Somalia’s Deputy Prime Minister Salah Ahmed Jama and Ethiopia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Demeke Mekonnen Hassen. The meeting was attended by senior government officials from both countries.
In a statement, Jama said that Somalia is committed to deepening its bilateral ties with Ethiopia on the basis of mutual respect in order to foster growth and seize opportunities that will benefit the two peoples. He said that the JMC’s first meeting in Mogadishu was a step in the right direction towards the enrichment of the two countries’ populations.
Mekonnen also spoke at the meeting, expressing his gratitude for the warm welcome he and the Ethiopian delegation received in Mogadishu. He said that the relations between Ethiopia and Somalia, which are currently centered on political and security issues, need to be expanded to include areas of cooperation that are more beneficial and prosperous for the peoples of the two countries.
Mekonnen praised the efforts of Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud in battling the Al-Shabaab terrorist group, calling it a decisive step towards ensuring lasting peace and security. He also stressed the importance of strengthening the relationship between people by exploring new ways of cooperating that represent a natural extension of this historical link.
The trade agreement signed on Thursday is the first of many that are expected to be signed between Somalia and Ethiopia in the coming months. The two countries are also working on a number of other initiatives, including a joint security force and a cross-border economic corridor.
