GAROWE, Puntland – The annual Puntland Investment Forum concluded on Tuesday in Garowe city with the announcement of giant investment projects worth 3 hundred million dollars, Garowe Online reports.

The Forum which continued for 15th, 16th and 17th September brought together 400 people, including 300 representing 130 local and international business companies, at a hotel in Puntland capital Garowe.

Top officials, including Puntland President, Said Abdullahu Deni, Somalia’s Minister of Planning Jamal Mohamed Hassan, several diplomats such as Nicolas Berlanga, EU envoy to Somalia attended the Expo.

President Deni said his government has set up the Investment policy which will effectively enable the entrepreneurs and business firms to invest in Puntland in any sector and anywhere of their interest.

”I want to affirm that the EU is ready to join you in re-branding Somalia and changing the image. Today, Somalia is very different from that of recent history. We are proud that Puntland is ready for Investment and leading this re-imaging course,” said Berlanga.

Farah Haji minster of Fishery said: "In Puntland, we have all types of fish and so far the ministry has registered about 12,000 fishermen with few exporters for our fisheries like the UAE. There are 19 fishing investment opportunities."

The investment forum seeks to provide a better platform for investors and entrepreneurs from Puntland and beyond to explore business opportunities in the northeastern oil-rich region on the Gulf of Aden.

While reiterating his government’s efforts in ensuring security in the state, Deni also called on the banks in the Somali Federal State to provide competitive interests for investors and budding entrepreneurs.

GAROWE ONLINE