The first Taiwan-Somaliland Joint Energy and Mineral Resources Cooperation Working Group Meeting was held March 15 in Hargeisa, underscoring the two sides’ commitment to expanding energy cooperation and strengthening ties, according to the Ministry of Economic Affairs.
Co-chaired by Eugene Y. J. Chen, director general of the Department of International Cooperation under the MOEA, and Fowsi Mohamed Farah, director general at Somaliland’s Ministry of Energy and Minerals, the event focused on the discovery and extraction of oil, gas and minerals as well as related policy exchanges.
Taiwan and Somaliland discussed Taiwan’s experience in oil exploration and production in Africa and bilateral cooperation in relevant sectors, the MOEA said. Both sides also agreed to map out capacity building training programs to cultivate skilled talent in Somaliland’s energy industries, the ministry added.
According to the MOEA, Somaliland’s location on the Horn of Africa places it along important shipping lanes that link the Indian Ocean and Mediterranean Sea. With its abundant hydrocarbon reserves and advantageous geographic position, Somaliland has strong economic development potential, the ministry added.
The Taiwan-Somaliland partnership has gone from strength to strength since the mutual establishment of representative offices in 2020. The MOEA cited the recent delegation’s visit, which is a result of the 2022 signing of an agreement on energy and mineral resources cooperation, as further evidence of the two sides’ deepening relationship. (DL-E)
Write to Taiwan Today at ttonline@mofa.gov.tw