By M.A. Egge
HARGEISA (Somalilandsun) – A fairly large trade expo was opened yesterday at Mansoor Hotel’s Hall that saw a hundred entrepreneurs exhibiting their franchise.
Dubbed Somaliland Business Fair, this is the second time Asal has sponsored the organization of the annual event, under the auspices of the National Chamber of Commerce and Ministry of Commerce’s banner.
For the first time the world’s largest vehicle manufacturers, Toyota, has for the first time joined the fray and exhibited their pieces.
The Toyota Meryl group has anchored in Somaliland. Their business establishment premises have its construction underway hence is soon to be completed.
The head of the chamber of commerce Mr. Mohammed Shukri Hulul invited guests and shoppers to the fair saying that it is now the change of times for the better.
“The only thing that the ears of the world got wind of coming out of this region were sad stories of violence, displacements etc”, and added, “but now it is for the better”.
Finance Minister Hon. Abdiaziz Samale saluted the organizers for their work and urged the populace to be industrious.
“The better educated a country is, the better her business acumen and development”.
The treasury chief however quipped in a veiled attempt to coax and nudge the business fraternity to fully pay taxes said that he hailed “the chat dealers for duly paying their taxes”.
Chat is a mild narcotic leaves imported from Ethiopia that is widely chewed in the region.
Other dignitaries who spoke to the audience were cabinet ministers Hon. Abdillahi Geljire, Hon. Farah Elmi Geedole and Hon. Abdirahman Adami of the Fisheries, Commerce and Defence respectively.
They all had encouraging and congratulatory words for the Chamber of Commerce and the associated sponsors of the events.
Dahabshiil Group CEO Mr. Abdirahman M. S. Duale, Telesom’s marketing manager Mr. Abdirashid I. Noor and Somtel boss Mr. Awil Salah Abdi were notable technocrats seen at the fair’s opening day.
Notably a Miss. Merryll of the Toyota was one of the foreign country representative exhibitors. Other nations included companies from Ethiopia and Yemen.
The writer M.A.Egge is the editor of the Horn Tribune a weekly English newspaper published in Hargeisa by the government owned Dawan media group
eggebodle@gmail.com & tht_editor@hotmail.com
