Berbera Urban Project Launched by Somaliland Government and the European Union

By Khadar Mariano

Hargeisa ( PPM) — Berbera urban development project was jointly inaugurated in Berbera by the European Union, Somaliland Ministry of Planning, Municipality of Berbera and UN-Habitat on the 30th of January 2020.

According to the joint press statement released, the €7.5 Million “project will support inclusive and sustainable development of the coastal city through strengthening the capacity of the municipality in urban planning, improving the waste management system as well as stimulating employment and entrepreneurship for urban communities.”

The Vice President of Somaliland H.E. Abdirahman Abdilahi Saylici, who was present at the event, has noted how important this project will be to helping  Somaliland  attain National Development Plan II goal. The Vice President has also underlined that the government will prioritize the development projects similar this project to promote economic growth and create opportunities for citizens, especially women and youth.

Somaliland Vice President Abdirahman Sayli’i 

The European Union’s H.E. Ambassador Nicolas Berlanga Martinez who has also made remarks at the inauguration of he project emphasized the significance of the project for the City of Berbera in terms of sustainable development and increased economic activities in the city as well as more opportunities for its inhabitants.  “This project will propel the city of Berbera to achieve sustainable development goals of building resilient infrastructure, promotion of industrialization and innovation. The project will hopefully address the challenge to improve waste management not only in economic or operational terms but also considering the environmental and social impacts” Ambassador said.

The Federal Government of Somalia has signed this project, in September 2019, with the European Union with a total budget of €23 Million for the coastal cities of Mogadishu and Berbera. The rest of the fund will be committed to projects in go to the capital City of Mogadishu. 

© Puntland Post Monthly, 2020 

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