# Somaliland Ports, Free Zone Authorities Hold Trade Cooperation Talks

> Horn Diplomat reported May 12 talks between Somaliland port and free zone authorities on coordination; no agreement or investment is documented.

- By: Editorial Team, Somali Construction Review (https://somaliconstructionreview.com/about)
- Published: 30 September 2026
- Format: News story (reported from one named public source)
- Publication: Somali Construction Review (https://somaliconstructionreview.com)
- Subject: Business and Costs
- Tags: ports, underbidding
- Web version: https://somaliconstructionreview.com/blog/somaliland-ports-free-zone-talks

## Key points

- On 12 May 2026, Horn Diplomat reported that Somaliland's Ports Authority and Free Zone Authority held high-level talks in Berbera.
- The reported focus was coordination to improve trade facilitation and logistics, but no agreement, funding, or project is documented.
- The report does not establish any developments since the talks.

On 12 May 2026, Horn Diplomat reported that the Somaliland Ports Authority and the Somaliland Free Zone Authority held high-level discussions aimed at strengthening cooperation between Berbera Port operations and the country's tax-free trade zone.

The meeting took place at the Ports Authority headquarters in Berbera, according to the report. Ports Authority General Manager Ali Diriye Ahmed and Deputy General Manager Omar Abokor Awil attended, along with Free Zone Authority General Manager Abdirisaq Idle Sheikh Abdi and Deputy General Manager Abdirisaq Ruush.

Horn Diplomat said the talks focused on enhancing coordination between the two institutions to improve trade facilitation, logistics services and economic integration linked to Berbera Port and the Free Zone. The Somaliland Ports Authority said in a statement quoted by Horn Diplomat that the meeting centred on strengthening cooperation and strategic coordination "to improve services and support national economic development."

Unnamed officials from both sides, as reported by Horn Diplomat, said stronger cooperation could help attract investment, enable regional commerce and improve Somaliland's economic competitiveness. The two institutions also reaffirmed their commitment to closer collaboration and continuous coordination, according to the report.

Horn Diplomat characterized Berbera Port, on the Gulf of Aden, as having seen major infrastructure expansion and investment projects, and said the adjacent Berbera Free Zone is expected to play a growing role in attracting international businesses. The report does not identify any specific project, funder, contractor, date or value for that expansion, nor any operator, investment figure, tenant or occupancy data for the Free Zone.

The report does not say whether the talks produced any agreement, memorandum, funding, joint committee, timeline or follow-up meeting. No subsequent statement, decision or project movement is documented. Reporting was by Mohamed Duale and editing by Horn Diplomat Desk.

## Questions

### What areas of cooperation were discussed?

According to Horn Diplomat, the talks focused on coordination to improve trade facilitation, logistics services and economic integration linked to Berbera Port and the Free Zone.

### Who attended the talks?

Ports Authority General Manager Ali Diriye Ahmed, Deputy General Manager Omar Abokor Awil, Free Zone Authority General Manager Abdirisaq Idle Sheikh Abdi and Deputy General Manager Abdirisaq Ruush attended, as reported by Horn Diplomat.

### What is the current state of trade through Somaliland ports?

The Horn Diplomat report does not provide trade volumes, revenue figures or performance data for Somaliland ports.

## Sources

- [Somaliland Ports, Free Zone Authorities Hold Talks to Boost Trade Cooperation](https://www.horndiplomat.com/somaliland-ports-free-zone-authorities-hold-talks-to-boost-trade-cooperation/) — Horn Diplomat, 2026-05-12