Excitement Building Among Somalia’s Puntland Communities

[kingofkings]

 

At home and abroad, a sense of excitement and optimism can be felt among the Somali communities from the Puntland regions as stability, political triumphs, and economic opportunities open up.

 

 

Residents in Puntland’s cities and villages have been buzzing about with rumors of oil, a subject that has dominated their lives for the past few months. But the conversation is not just limited to oil. Greater political clout for the region’s agenda in Mogadishu, as well as improving health standards, and better access to education have all brought about reasons for locals to be excited.

 

There’s no doubt that oil and gas exploration coupled with foreign interest and investment in the poor region is the single biggest factor of excitement and glee. In the major cities alone, the Somali Shilling has gone from exchanging at rates of 32,000 to the dollar to 19,000 in Bosaso and 25,000 in Garowe. Even in the small roadside town of Armo, the Shilling now exchanges at rates of 23,000 to the dollar, better than the Puntland State capital.

 

The number one question asked at cafes and other meeting points of interest was how oil production would affect the region. As previously established, the current opinion is very positive, with an estimated 1,000 jobs created by oil exploration in the rural communities, and countless business opportunities opening up across the landscape.

 

The people of the region have many reasons to be excited about the future of not just their local communities, but their entire nation as well, and a growing trend of economic interest in the region will serve to bring further hope to a broken land.

 

 

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