Trade Arabia News Service
Wednesday March 2, 2022
Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD) has participated in the
inauguration of the first bridge built as part of the Berbera-Hargeisa
corridor project in Somaliland.
This strategic initiative has been financed from the AED330.5 million
(US$89.9m) grant programme provided by the UAE for the country in 2017.
The grant is managed by ADFD to finance various projects to drive sustainable development in Somaliland.
President Muse Bihi Abdi of the Republic of Somaliland inaugurated the
project in the presence of Abdullah Muhammad Al Naqbi, Director of the
UAE Trade Office in Somaliland, and several ministers and senior
officials.
Running 105 m long, the bridge is considered one of the longest along
the Berbera-Hargeisa corridor that links major cities and regions in the
country.
The road also connects the strategic port of Berbera with the
Somaliland capital, Hargeisa, the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa, as
well as other East African countries, facilitating economic cooperation
and enhancing trade. The project has been carried out at a cost of
AED262m ($71.4m).
Mohamed Saif Al-Suwaidi, Director-General of ADFD, said, "The
inauguration of the strategic infrastructure project marks a qualitative
leap in economic and social development in Somaliland. This is because
the project will significantly facilitate import and export of food and
agricultural products, in addition to supporting small and medium
enterprises and connecting the local markets with the regional ones."
He stressed that ADFD is keen to support the country to advance its
sustainable development initiative through financing projects in
strategic areas. "The Fund finances a number of vital projects in
various sectors such as energy, transport and agriculture, in addition
to promoting small and medium enterprises, which drives development in
the country," he noted.
The Berbera-Hargeisa corridor project contributes to facilitate traffic
and passenger movement, reduce time and cost incurred on them and lower
carbon emission. The project also contributes to promoting economic
activities in smaller cities along the road by linking them with the
main cities in the country, he added.