Somalia, 7 October 2025 — Somalia on Tuesday opened the East African Community Conference (EACON 2025) in Mogadishu, marking the second consecutive year the country has hosted the high-level regional forum.
The event brings together government officials, business leaders, and development partners from across East Africa to discuss cooperation, trade, and innovation under the theme “Advancing Productive Sector Cooperation for Socioeconomic Transformation in the East African Community.”
Opening the conference, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud highlighted the significance of Somalia hosting the event, describing it as a sign of renewed confidence in the country and its growing role within the East African bloc.
“Mogadishu is a city with a rich history of trade and regional connection,” the President said.
“Hosting this conference reflects Somalia’s commitment to play an active role in regional integration and to promote peace, commerce, and connectivity across East Africa,” he added.
The President emphasized that Somalia’s full membership in the East African Community (EAC) has opened new opportunities in trade, education, and technology. The EAC has a combined GDP of US$312.9 billion, making it one of Africa’s most dynamic regional economic blocs.
Minister of Education, Culture, and Higher Learning Farah Abdulkadir said Somalia plans to strengthen cultural and linguistic ties with the region.
“The Swahili language, spoken widely across East Africa, will soon be part of our national curriculum,” he said. “We want to ensure that more Somalis speak Swahili even more than those who speak English.”
Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Ali Mohamed Omar highlighted opportunities for Somalia's private sector.
“This is a market of more than 300 million people,” he said. “Somali businesses will have access to new trade, employment, and learning opportunities across the region.”
Kenya’s Ambassador to Somalia, Kubai Irringo, praised Somalia for hosting the conference for a second consecutive year.
“Hosting EACON again shows that Somalia’s government, the Chamber of Commerce, and development partners are focused on integrating their businesses with the region,” he said.
“Next time, invite more speakers from other East African countries, particularly from Chambers of Commerce, because those are the people Somalis need to work with to grow their economy and open new business channels,” he added.
From the private sector, Hormuud Telecom Chairman Ahmed Mohamud Yusuf highlighted the role of technology in Somalia’s recovery and regional leadership.
“Two decades ago, Somalia’s economy was held together by resilience and ingenuity,” he said. “Today, that same determination drives our digital networks, connecting every district and powering the nation’s transformation. Somalia is emerging as the digital gateway to the Horn of Africa.”
Over the two-day conference, delegates will explore cooperation in agriculture, digital finance, trade, and public-private partnerships, while discussing regional policy harmonization and infrastructure investment to strengthen economic integration across the EAC.