Leipzig, (SONNA) – The Annual Summit of the International Transport Forum (ITF), held from 6–8 May in the city of Leipzig, Germany, concluded successfully with Somalia participating for the first time since the establishment of this prominent global platform.
Somalia was represented at the summit by the Director General of the Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation, Mr. Omar Afrah, who took part in high-level discussions focused on the advancement and cooperation of various modes of transportation, including air, land, and maritime transport.
The ITF serves as a distinguished international forum that convenes nearly 100 member states, alongside international organizations, multinational corporations, and global investors, with a strategic emphasis on enhancing mobility, connectivity, and investment in transportation infrastructure worldwide.
Throughout the course of the summit, the Director General held a series of meetings with the Minister of Transport of the Republic of Türkiye, the Deputy Minister of Transport of Azerbaijan — which chaired this year’s forum — the Deputy Minister of Transport of China, the Secretary-General of the ITF, as well as representatives from international companies and investment groups.
These engagements centered on strengthening cooperation in the transport sector, advancing infrastructure development, and exploring investment opportunities in Somalia.
The forum warmly welcomed Somalia’s participation this year and formally invited the country to become a full member of the International Transport Forum next year. This represents a significant opportunity for Somalia and reflects the growing international confidence in the nation’s progress, recovery, and ongoing reconstruction efforts.
