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Mogadishu residents are showing a huge appetite for work after years of fighting. (Reuters)
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MOGADISHU — A prevailing sense of peace and security felt in many parts of the once lawless Somalia since the rise of the Supreme Islamic Council of Somalia (SICS) is increasingly attracting foreign investors back to the Horn of African country.
"We look forward towards conducting healthy and fruitful business in Somalia," Magdey Bashir, an Egyptian working for Kuwait-based Dana Group Center, told Reuters on Monday, October 30.
Bashir, whose company is dealing with construction, real estate, food and information technology, is one of many foreign investors who have arrived in the capital Mogadishu to look into business prospects in the African country.
"We are the first foreign investors to land in Mogadishu," said his Indian fellow Mahesh Ayra.
"We are only waiting for security assurance to come and invest here."
Somalis have been enjoying rare moments of peace since the emergence of the SICS, formerly known as Islamic Courts.
The SICS has been steadily gaining more grounds and power since seizing Mogadishu from US-backed warlords in June.
Now, foreign investors are able to move in the Mogadishu streets without the help of gunmen.
The SICS has also re-opened Mogadishu's port and airport, where a "Let us build Somalia together" sign hangs high. Both had been closed for over a decade.
Since the SICS started issuing visas, flights to and from Kenya and Dubai have been full of curious investors and returning refugees.
Passengers are sometimes forced to wait for days to get a seat on the packed planes.
Home to about 10 million largely impoverished people, Somalia has lacked almost all the trappings of a functional state, such as national systems of education, healthcare and justice, for the past 15 years.
Another Dubai
Ayra said other Indian investors are looking forward to channeling investments into the African country.
"Our partners will soon come to see for themselves ... opportunities are abundant here," he said.
"Road infrastructure and the health care sector are the priority areas that need urgent funding."
Both Bashir and Ayra have purchased scrap metals worth millions of dollars from a company in Mogadishu.
"We have already purchased 27 metric tones of scrap metal worth over $5 million," said Bashir.
"We will bring in sugar and cement ... We have a lot of ideas and business plans," he added.
Yang Jian Zhong also came to Mogadishu to purchase rawhide for his shoe factory in central China.
"We hope to get four containers (of rawhide) ... Everything is new here, it's good for business," said his partner Moosa on behalf of Yang who does not speak English.
"Somalia can develop into another Dubai. They have good weather, living is cheap and there are a lot of business opportunities.
"I hope this peace will come true for Somalia," he said, sipping local tea.
Yang called on his government, which has a strong presence in Africa, to help rebuild Somalia where millions are jobless.
"I hope the Chinese government helps Somalia. Somalia can develop if peace comes. People can do a lot."
Bashir said Mogadishu residents had a huge appetite for work after years of fighting.
He said some women and men had begun cleaning streets and clearing roads on their own initiative.
"It is a sign that people are ready to work, they need money to survive ... We are ready to provide them with jobs they need."
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