By: Editor
DUBAI (Somalilandsun) – The Dubai World Ports-DP is not part of an alleged contract issued by the government of Somaliland to service operations at Berbera port.
Prompted by an article we posted titled ” Emirates P&O Ports Set for Berbera Port Operational Development Contract” in which DP a giant Emirati firm with operations in six continents was named as beneficiary of the Berbera port contract a senior official speaking on phone denied being offered the lucrative contract.
Seeking anonymity “DP World, a global marine terminal operator and P&O Ports, a subsidiary of Ports, Customs and Freezone Corporation (PCFC) are two separate companies” adding that the Emirati being a listed company on Nasdaq Dubai news reports such as the one we posted titled tend to confuse its investors and the financial market.
While we have positively ascertained that DP is not involved in the decades long multi-million dollar contract that entails 100% operational authority as well as expansion of infrastructure and management of container handling services at the Berbera port our report was prompted by revelations by President Ahmed Mahmud Silanyo that his administrati8on was in consultation with four foreign firms namely Bollore (France), DP World (UAE), Prime Africa (KSA) or Kuwaiti Logistics (Kuwait)
In lieu of the above which clearly indicates that DP was the only one in the UAE approached by authorities in Hargeisa not to mention over two years rumours alleging that the Emirati firm, will run things at the port soon, Somalilandsun was and still remains unable to grasp information mentioning, Ports, Customs and Freezone Corporation (PCFC) as beneficiary over the giant DP that manages 65 marine terminals in six continents.
If rumours of a split within players at the Somaliland presidency with on faction favouring DP and the other fronting for PCFC are true then the statement by the latter’s’ chairman Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem that “We are pleased to announce that P&O Ports has signed MoUs to enter into preliminary discussions with various governments i.e. Madagascar, Albania and Somaliland to enhance their port infrastructure” singling out Berbera port, is suffice
Having been appraised on our error and being thankful to DP for pointing it out we hope that this clarification will set the record straight
