Happy Cola

[Jacaylbaro]

Aw Barkadle, 16 February 2009 (Somalilandpress) — Despite the turbulence in the global markets, Somaliland investors opened a new soft drink factory on Sunday called Happy Cola in Aw Barkadle, a small town 30 km south-east of the capital Hargeisa.

 

Happy Cola has two production lines but plans to expand in the near future and will introduce other products such as snacks, cooking oil and processed food, which is already under construction. For now it will supply 8400 cartons of soft drinks and 6000 cartons of spring water per day to the market.

 

Happy Cola will produce and distribute it’s own products and supply to the local market as well as neighboring countries such as Somalia, Ethiopia and Djibouti where the demand is very high.

 

Happy Cola is expected to create new jobs even though it already employs over 140 people, some of them from India, China, Sudan and Yemen.

 

The factory has been under construction for the past 5 years at a cost of more than $8 million so far and only half way.

 

omaliland president, Dahir Rayale, who was present for the ribbon cutting ceremony said the new factory will create jobs as well as establish trust among Somaliland investors to open companies together as shareholders. “Before individuals use to invest their entire savings on one thing, many losing it, however this company opened a new chapter in Somaliland, that of shareholding and corporations,” President Rayale said.

 

President Rayale also said that Somaliland entered a new chapter as a nation and that more people and international corporates were ready to invest in Somaliland such as the French Bank (BCI-MR) that recently opened an office in Hargeisa.

 

The general Manager of Happy Cola, Mr Abdirasak Abdullahi Qorahay said that Aw Barkadle was a historical town and only the town of Zeila was oldier. “Aw Barkadle has historical significance and we are very much delighted to be the first company to build a factory of this kind - it will be producing food and drinks and it’s construction began in 2004,” he said.

 

Attendance included politicians, investors, students, elderly leaders, and others distinguished guests.

 

Despite lack of international recognition, Somalilanders who attended the event expressed optimism that Somaliland will overcome the impact of the continued turbulence in the global financial market on the domestic economy and economic isolation - it’s slowly but surely crawling it’s way up.