By Zakarie Soohoyde - Reporter
Mogadishu (Dawan ) – Mogadishu today hosted the official opening of the Somalia–Italy Business Forum 2026, marking the first time the event is being held in Somalia’s capital.
The forum, held at the AALA Hangar, brought together officials from the federal government, Somali and Italian business leaders, investors, financial institutions, and development partners to discuss strengthening economic and commercial ties between the two countries.
Scheduled to run for three days, the forum focuses on showcasing investment opportunities in Somalia, expanding business connections between Somali and Italian enterprises, and promoting new partnerships to drive sustainable economic growth.
During the opening session, Somalia’s Deputy Prime Minister Salah Ahmed Jama highlighted plans to revive banana exports, a key commodity that Somalia historically exported to European markets.
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"We aim to resume banana exports to Italy and other parts of Europe as we once did," he said.
The forum will also host direct business-to-business (B2B) meetings, connecting Somali and Italian companies to explore cooperation in priority sectors such as agriculture, fisheries, energy, manufacturing, and financial services.
Organizers emphasized that the forum creates a business-friendly environment built on trust, collaboration, and long-term investment, which can strengthen Somalia–Italy economic ties and open new pathways for mutual growth and development.