Somaliland Update: The United Arab Emerites Enter

[Jacaylbaro]

In the past few days Somaliland has been working on its long-term goal of international recognition, and has sought to gain a closer relationship with another important nation in the region–the United Arab Emirates. It would appear that Somaliland and the UAE were able to discuss matters of considerable interest to both nations in what appears to be a useful quid pro quo, if one reads between the lines.

 

Somaliland Is Open For Investment

 

According to Somaliland247, Somaliland attended a recent meeting of Middle Eastern business and government interests, and in a meeting with the UAE Secretary of Education made itself clear that it was open for business [1]. Somaliland praised the UAE and also laid down a series of needs–better education facilities, water (due to a drought in the troubled region), and foreign investment to help create jobs. The fact that Somaliland’s people only use an average of 30 liters per day of water suggests the scope of the problem. As the UAE is a nation with great expertise in desalinization plants, that is clearly an area where the UAE can provide expertise to Somaliland.

 

For its part, the UAE promised to provide humanitarian, investment, and educational aid to help Somaliland further develop. It appears obvious that despite its long obscurity and its low international profile, Somaliland has something to offer the UAE that would make it worth the while of the desert monarchy to provide substantial and broad assistance. But what would Somaliland have to offer to the UAE?

 

 

READ MORE: http://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress.com/2011/04/24/somaliland-update-the-united-arab-emerites-enter/