Somali Delegation Visits Ningbo-Zhoushan Port to Explore Trade and Investment Opportunities

Mogadishu, (SONNA) – A delegation from the Federal Government of Somalia, led by the Minister of Commerce and Industry, H.E. Jamal Mohamed Hassan, has visited Ningbo-Zhoushan Port in Zhejiang Province, China, to explore opportunities for strengthening economic cooperation and developing Somalia’s port and logistics infrastructure.

The delegation included Somalia’s Ambassador to China, H.E. Dr. Hodan Osman, and Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Office of the Prime Minister, Abdirizak Ibrahim, alongside senior government officials and representatives from several federal ministries.

During the visit, the delegation toured the port’s third container terminal, which handles more than 10 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) annually. They were briefed on modern port management systems, transport and logistics services, connections between ports and manufacturing industries, and the role of port infrastructure in promoting economic growth and international trade.

The visit provided an opportunity for Somali officials to learn from China’s experience in port development and logistics, particularly as Somalia seeks to develop its maritime infrastructure and strengthen its position in regional and international trade.

Somalia’s strategic location along major international maritime routes linking the Indian Ocean, Gulf of Aden, Red Sea and Suez Canal, together with its extensive coastline, offers significant opportunities to develop its ports as gateways connecting trade between Africa, Asia, the Middle East and Europe.

These efforts align with the National Transformation Plan 2025–2029, which prioritizes the development of ports, transport and logistics infrastructure, special economic zones, and the attraction of investment in industry and international trade.

The delegation also attended a meeting in Ningbo on promoting economic cooperation between Somalia and China. Discussions highlighted China’s experience in port-led economic development, free trade zones, tariff policies for African goods and customs facilitation.

The visit forms part of the Federal Government’s efforts to strengthen economic ties with China and draw on international experience to develop Somalia’s port infrastructure, maximize its strategic maritime position and expand its role in regional and global trade.