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The Republic of Somaliland Representative Office in Taiwan warmly welcomed a senior healthcare delegation from Somaliland, led by Dr. Ahmed Mohamoud Jama, Director General of the Ministry of Health Development, accompanied by Dr. Ahmed Wali Dahir Haddi, Director of Hargeisa Group Hospital, and Dr. Deeq Said Jama. The delegation is visiting Taiwan as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen Somaliland–Taiwan healthcare cooperation, deepen professional and knowledge exchange, improve healthcare services, and explore new opportunities for institutional collaboration between the two sides. The visit builds on significant achievements made through the Somaliland–Taiwan health partnership in recent years. Healthcare has become one of the major areas of bilateral development cooperation, encompassing digital health, hospital management, emergency medical services, healthcare professional training, maternal and infant healthcare, and public health emergency preparedness. A major achievement has been the development of the Somaliland Health Information System (SHIS) through cooperation involving TaiwanICDF, Somaliland’s Ministry of Health Development and Kaohsiung Medical University Chung-Ho Memorial Hospital. The system has introduced digital health information infrastructure across selected hospitals, covering outpatient, emergency and inpatient services as well as laboratory and other hospital functions. By the end of 2025, SHIS had accumulated more than 394,000 electronic medical records and 347,000 electronic outpatient records, while 60 training sessions had trained nearly 1,500 participants. Information and network infrastructure was also established at the Ministry of Health Development and six selected hospitals. Cooperation has also strengthened Somaliland’s emergency healthcare capacity. By March 2026, 16 seed instructors had completed emergency medical services training in Taiwan, while 212 participants completed Advanced Cardiac Life Support training and 118 participated in pre-hospital emergency care training. Ambulance dispatch call centers were also established at Hargeisa Group Hospital and Gabiley General Hospital, supported by dedicated hotlines and digital ambulance-dispatch data systems. The delegation’s visit represents another step in transforming the strong friendship between the Republic of Somaliland and Taiwan (ROC) into practical improvements in healthcare delivery, professional capacity and institutional development. The Somaliland Representative Office looks forward to continued cooperation with Taiwan’s healthcare institutions and development partners to build on these achievements and further strengthen the quality, accessibility and resilience of Somaliland’s healthcare system.

The Republic of Somaliland Representative Office in Taiwan welcomed a high-level delegation from the International Cooperation and Development Fund (TaiwanICDF), led by Secretary General Dr. Huang Yu-Lin, for a productive meeting focused on strengthening and expanding development cooperation between the Republic of Somaliland and Taiwan (ROC). H.E. Ambassador Mahmoud Adam Jama Galaal warmly received the delegation and expressed Somaliland’s appreciation for TaiwanICDF’s continued contribution to the bilateral development partnership. Since 2020, TaiwanICDF has supported Somaliland across several priority sectors, including healthcare, agriculture, ICT and e-government, cybersecurity, education, and institutional capacity-building. During the meeting, the two sides reviewed completed and ongoing projects, discussed their achievements and implementation, and explored opportunities to broaden the scope of future cooperation. The Somaliland side emphasized the importance of upgrading the partnership beyond its current strong focus on technical assistance and capacity-building. In particular, Somaliland proposed exploring TaiwanICDF’s investment and lending mechanisms to support larger-scale, economically productive development projects. Somaliland also highlighted water infrastructure and equipment as a priority area for expanded cooperation, including support for equipment and technologies that can strengthen water access, management and resilience. This was identified as particularly important for addressing Somaliland’s development needs and strengthening the resilience of communities and productive sectors. The discussions reflected Somaliland’s interest in developing the partnership from individual technical projects toward a broader development cooperation framework that combines technical assistance, capacity-building, investment and financing, and essential infrastructure support. The meeting reaffirmed the strong partnership between the Republic of Somaliland and Taiwan (ROC) and the shared commitment to ensuring that bilateral cooperation continues to produce practical and sustainable benefits for the people of Somaliland. The Somaliland Representative Office looks forward to working closely with TaiwanICDF to build on existing achievements while exploring new financing instruments, water-sector cooperation, and other strategic development initiatives in the years ahead.

The Republic of Somaliland Representative Office in Taiwan held constructive discussions with the leadership of EximBank Taiwan during a visit to the Bank’s headquarters, with a focus on practical opportunities to expand trade, commerce, and business engagement between the Republic of Somaliland and Taiwan (ROC). H.E. Ambassador Mahmoud Adam Jama Galaal met with Mr. Fu-Hua Hsieh, President of EximBank Taiwan; Mr. Ming Feng Tsai, Senior Vice President and General Manager; Mr. Andy H.M. Chen, Senior Vice President and General Manager; and Ms. Nicole C.C. Chan, Vice President and Deputy General Manager. The Ambassador was accompanied by Dr. Abdiqani Musa Hassan, First Secretary; Mr. Ridwan Abdirahman Hassan, Second Secretary; and Mr. Allen Shen, Executive Secretary. The discussions focused on identifying practical mechanisms to facilitate greater trade and commercial engagement between Somaliland and Taiwan, as well as opportunities to strengthen connections between businesses and financial institutions on both sides. Somaliland offers significant potential as an emerging trade and investment gateway in the Horn of Africa. Its strategic location along the Gulf of Aden places it close to one of the world’s busiest maritime trade routes, while the continued development of Berbera Port, the Berbera Corridor and the Berbera Economic Zone is strengthening the country’s connectivity with regional and international markets. Berbera Port has developed modern container and general cargo infrastructure, including a deep-water terminal capable of handling major container vessels. The adjacent Berbera Economic Zone provides serviced industrial land, warehouses, logistics facilities and opportunities for manufacturing, assembly, distribution and other value-added commercial activities. Together, these facilities position Somaliland to serve not only its domestic economy but also the wider Horn of Africa market. Somaliland also presents considerable opportunities for international businesses in livestock and livestock processing, fisheries, agriculture and food processing, logistics and warehousing, energy, manufacturing and other emerging industries. Developing value chains in these sectors could enable Somaliland to move beyond the export of primary commodities toward greater processing, value addition and regional trade. For Taiwanese companies, Somaliland therefore offers opportunities both as a growing domestic market and as a potential platform for accessing markets across the Horn of Africa. Taiwan’s strengths in manufacturing, technology, agricultural development, SMEs and trade finance could complement Somaliland’s natural resources, strategic location and expanding trade infrastructure. Ambassador Galaal expressed his sincere appreciation to President Fu-Hua Hsieh and his distinguished colleagues for their warm welcome and open and productive exchange. The Representative Office looks forward to continuing its engagement with EximBank Taiwan and other relevant institutions to translate the strong partnership between the Republic of Somaliland and Taiwan (ROC) into greater trade, investment and tangible opportunities for businesses and people on both sides.

Taipei, 15 September 2025 — The Governor of the Central Bank of Somaliland, Mr Abdinasir Ahmed Hersi, together with Senior Advisor Mr Mohamud Ahmed Mohamud and the Somaliland Representative in Taiwan, Ambassador Mahmoud Adan Jama Galal, today held a series of high-level meetings with Taiwan’s Financial Supervisory Commission (FSC) and the Central Bank of the Republic of China (Taiwan). Talks centred on deepening co-operation across a range of regulatory and operational areas, with particular emphasis on financial supervision, monetary stability and institutional capacity-building. Both sides stressed the importance of closer collaboration to support sustainable financial development and to ensure resilience in the face of global economic challenges. Governor Hersi reaffirmed Somaliland’s commitment to developing a transparent and resilient financial sector capable of facilitating trade, attracting investment and underpinning long-term economic growth. He welcomed Taiwan’s proven expertise in financial governance as a valuable model for Somaliland’s evolving institutions. For their part, the FSC and Taiwan’s Central Bank expressed their readiness to explore avenues for technical assistance, professional training programmes and knowledge-sharing initiatives to support Somaliland in modernising its financial frameworks. Such efforts are expected to enhance regulatory oversight, bolster the stability of the banking sector and strengthen confidence in Somaliland’s financial system. Ambassador Mahmoud Adan Jama Galal underscored the wider significance of the visit, observing that the engagements reflect the growing diplomatic and economic partnership between Somaliland and Taiwan. He noted that greater co-operation in financial governance will complement broader initiatives to deepen bilateral relations across multiple sectors. This latest round of discussions marks a further milestone in the Somaliland–Taiwan relationship, reinforcing a shared commitment to mutual support, institutional development and sustainable economic progress.

On July 24, 2025, Taiwan and Somaliland signed a landmark coast guard cooperation agreement, opening a new chapter in maritime collaboration between the two partners. The signing took place in Taipei during an official visit by Somaliland’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, H.E. Abdirahman Dahir Adam. President Lai Ching-te welcomed the agreement, emphasizing its significance in strengthening democratic partnerships and promoting regional security. The deal was signed by Admiral Ahmed Hurre Hariye of the Somaliland Coast Guard and Chang Chung-lung, Director-General of Taiwan’s Coast Guard Administration. President Lai also highlighted the challenges both Taiwan and Somaliland face from authoritarian pressures and reaffirmed the importance of joint efforts to ensure maritime stability and international engagement. The Somaliland delegation included Minister of Presidency Khadar Hussein Abdi and Admiral Hariye. This agreement builds on earlier discussions held in 2022 and reflects the deepening ties between the two sides since the establishment of representative offices in 2020.

The Guardian, one of the world’s most influential newspapers, has conducted an exclusive interview with the President of the Republic of Somaliland, H.E. Abdirahman Mohamed Abdilahi. In this important interview, the President discusses Somaliland’s democratic progress, regional stability, and its growing strategic relevance in the Horn of Africa. He also highlights Somaliland’s aspirations for international recognition and the vital role played by its partnerships, including with Taiwan. 📄 Read the full interview here: 🔗 https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2025/may/30/exclusive-somaliland-president-says-recognition-of-state-on-the-horizon-following-trump-talks The Somaliland Representative Office in Taiwan encourages the public, media, and international observers to read this insightful piece and stay updated on Somaliland’s diplomatic engagements.

Author: Abdiqani Muse Hassan* * Ph.D. Candidate in International Business, Asia University, Taichung, Taiwan   In 2020, the Republic of Somaliland and the Republic of China (Taiwan) formed diplomatic relations and established representative offices in the respective capitals. Since then, the two countries have started technical assistance projects in agriculture, information technology, and medical sectors, nevertheless, the economic cooperation has yet to get momentum. The relationship between Somaliland and Taiwan is conducive to greater economic integration because of the existing industry complementarity and commitment to do business with one another. Taiwan’s government and business community have eyes on Africa and are fully aware of business opportunities and market potentials in Africa, unfortunately, the country has a few allies in the continent including Eswatini and Somaliland. Therefore, Somaliland could become a hub for Taiwan to establish economic ties with the population of 400 million-plus in the East African region. With that in mind, Taiwan has begun its efforts to engage Africa through Somaliland and has organized trade fairs that brought together businesspeople and chambers of commerce from East African countries in Hargeisa, Somaliland. Taiwan’s presence in Somaliland provides an opportunity for the Taiwanese business community to take advantage of the free trade agreements of African countries such as the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (ACFTA) and to explore investment opportunities in Africa. But for bilateral relations to be mutually beneficial, Taiwan can contribute to the development of Somaliland’s domestic economy by sharing its miraculous economic experience from the 1960s to the 1990s. If Taiwan helps Somaliland build a debt-free economy through know-how exchange and capacity building, it may convince other African countries to set up diplomatic offices in Taiwan. Aside from the importance and benefits that Somaliland-Taiwan economic ties can bring to Taiwan; the question is whether Somaliland is a place worth investing in? or is it a place where economic growth can take place? Somaliland’s Market Potentials Unlike some of the neighboring countries, Somaliland is a peaceful, stable, and democratic nation with a free-market economy. Somaliland locates at a strategic location which makes it an integral part of the world economy since ancient times. Somaliland’s coastal towns of Zeila, Lasqoray, and Berbera were famous for vibrant trade activities where raw materials and primary products from inland Africa were exported to other territories, and the imports from the rest of the world were received. In addition, Somaliland has plenty of untapped reserves of natural resources such as minerals (iron ore, uranium, copper, tin, bauxite, gypsum, etc.), salt, and natural gas. These numerous natural resources are yet to be exploited because of the poor infrastructure and the decades of international isolation. On the other hand, Somaliland has a predominantly young and multilingual workforce that can play an important role in economic development. In terms of physical infrastructure, Somaliland and neighboring countries are building their infrastructure to promote trade flow and connectivity such as the Berbera Corridor which aims to connect Berber, Somaliland port city, and Addis-Ababa, the capital city of Ethiopia. UAE also invests 500 million to increase Berbera port capacity and build Berbera airport. On the other hand, Somaliland is improving its trade and investment regulations to create legal frameworks that can attract foreign partners to invest in Somaliland. There are also plenty of profitable business opportunities in the sectors of livestock production, fishery development, outsourcing manufacturing, tourism, and services. The Somaliland National Development Plan Vision of 2030 gives the highest priority to economic development; hence the government of Somaliland is committed to establishing economic cooperation with partner countries. On the other hand, the people of Somaliland are creative and entrepreneurial people who prefer to get foreign direct investment instead of foreign aid. All these factors taken together can make Somaliland an attractive investment destination for Taiwanese businesses. Current and Future Collaborations Despite the COVID19 restrictions and its subsequent difficulties in trade, travel, and investment flow, Somaliland and Taiwan have successfully collaborated in organizing trade fairs, matchmaking webinars, market opportunity seminars, and many more trade and investment promotion activities. Several MOUs were signed by companies and institutions from Taiwan, Somaliland, and other East African partners. Moreover, there were some import-export activities of products from Taiwan and some raw materials from Somaliland such as Frankincense. In terms of investment, China Petroleum Corporation (CPC) lead the way and pleaded to invest millions in Somaliland’s oil exploration and drilling activities. Most importantly, recent Somaliland’s delegation to Taiwan has met with the Minister of Economic Affairs of Taiwan and important trade and business associations in Taiwan to discuss future economic cooperation. To maintain these efforts, it is necessary to remove the basic barriers hindering economic cooperation and establish favorable trade and investment environment. One of the biggest challenges facing Somaliland in terms of international economic cooperation is the immature regulatory system which is sometimes incomplete or doesn’t exist at all. Therefore, Taiwan and Somaliland authorities should prioritize collaborating in reviewing Somaliland’s trade and investment laws to establish global standard regulations which can attract international investors and can facilitate economic diversification and growth. Data and statistics are also necessary to make business and financial decisions, hence, the two countries should conduct joint feasibility studies and work together in the areas of research, exploration, and data collection. Another key element of economic development is to have a strong human infrastructure that is healthy, well-educated, and well-trained society. Taiwan can assist in the development of basic industrial human resources through establishing vocational schools, providing scholarships, training, industry visits, and exchange of human capital. In addition to the human resource development cooperation and policy reviews, Taiwan can also contribute by investing the critical infrastructure for economic development such as roads, telecommunications, water, energy, food processing manufacturers, and other sectors which are necessary to boost the country’s productivity. Taiwan has lending and investment programs for partner countries therefore funding Somaliland’s basic infrastructure can boost economic cooperation between the two countries. As the president of Somaliland, H.E Musa Bihi has repeatedly said Somaliland’s people and government prefer to attract foreign investment