By Mohamed Abdi - Reporter
Mogadishu, 17 August 2026 — Somalia has ratified the African Continental Free Trade Area agreement, becoming the 50th country to join and opening access for Somali businesses to a continental market of nearly 1.4 billion people worth more than $3.4 trillion.
The government says the ratification creates an opportunity to expand domestic production, attract industrial investment and position Somali-made products across Africa.
Minister of Commerce and Industry Jamaal Mohamed said the government is working to establish designated industrial zones where goods can be manufactured and prepared for export under a “Made in Somalia” brand.
“This will encourage us to establish designated industrial areas, which we have been working on recently, where products can be prepared for export under the ‘Made in Somalia’ name,” Mohamed said.
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The AfCFTA framework aims to facilitate the movement of goods and services between African countries by reducing trade barriers and creating a more integrated continental market.
AfCFTA Secretary-General Wamkele Mene, who visited Mogadishu, said the trip was aimed at beginning cooperation with Somalia on implementing the agreement and ensuring the country benefits from continental integration.
The Somali government said its focus extends beyond exporting raw commodities. The objective is to increase domestic processing and manufacturing, add value to locally produced goods, and then export them to African markets.
The move comes as Somalia seeks to strengthen domestic production, attract investment, create jobs and increase export revenues. If industrialization plans move forward, officials say the “Made in Somalia” label could become a gateway for Somali products into African markets under the AfCFTA framework.