In brief
- Somaliland Standard reported on 22 November 2019 that DP World is committed to building the Port of Berbera to a world-class facility.
- DP World's Federico Banos-Linder said at the Nairobi conference that phase one of three phases is done, but the report does not establish project progress after that date.
- The article also captured statements on Somaliland infrastructure gaps and opportunities, but no binding agreements or updated project status have been evidenced since.
On 22 November 2019, Somaliland Standard reported that Dubai company DP World is committed to building the Somaliland Port of Berbera to a world-class facility. The statement was made by Federico Banos-Linder, Vice President External Relations at DP World, during a Conference on Infrastructure, Energy and Extractives hosted by the Somaliland embassy in Kenya in Nairobi.
The publication attributed to DP World a claim of USD 442 million invested to rebuild the Port of Berbera. At the conference, Banos-Linder said that phase one of three phases was done, with container capacity increased by 50 per cent and volumes pushed up by 70 per cent. He also claimed that livestock exports had risen from 1.5 million to 4 million "just less than a year ago". All these figures are attributed to Banos-Linder by Somaliland Standard; no independent verification or baseline data is provided.
The report does not establish what has happened since that date. No evidence is given for the current status of the port expansion, the disbursement of the USD 442 million, or the completion of later phases. The publication also listed other infrastructure engagements: a US $400 million road project linking Togochale on the Ethiopia border to Berbera Port, restoration of Berbera Airport, and the allocation of six oil blocks to Genel Energy, Rak Gas, and Ansen Gas. However, no progress, contracts, or current activity is documented beyond the statements made at the conference.
Somaliland finance minister Dr Saad Ali Shire said at the conference that there were opportunities in electricity generation, transmission and distribution, as well as in urban water, waste management, roads, ports, airports, social housing, and high-end health care infrastructure. He said foreign input was required to achieve long-term development goals and that the government would provide the right environment for foreign investment.
Other speakers included David Stanton, Director General of Trade Mark East Africa, Eric Labee, Africa Representative at Boskalis, and Amb. Johnson Weru of Kenya's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The article byline was Odindo Ayieko.
The Somaliland Standard report captured declarations and attendance at the Nairobi conference but does not establish that any investment, agreement, or construction activity followed from those statements.
Frequently asked questions
What is DP World's commitment to the Port of Berbera?
As reported on 22 November 2019, DP World, through Vice President Federico Banos-Linder, said the company is committed to building the Port of Berbera to a world-class facility.
What has happened at the Port of Berbera since the 2019 report?
The 2019 report does not establish any events after its publication date. It only captures statements made at the conference, including that phase one of three phases was claimed done.
How does the Berbera port relate to the Berbera corridor?
The report mentions a US $400 million road project linking Togochale on the Ethiopia border to Berbera Port, but no current status or details are provided beyond the announcement.