UNIDO-backed enterprise units open for “business” in Mogadishu, Kismayo and Baidoa

MOGADISHU, April 15th 2020 — Over the past few months, Somalia’s Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI), the Somali Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI), both at federal and state levels, and UNIDO have been working to kickstart the first three Somalia Enterprise Development Units (EDUs) in the cities of Mogadishu, Kismayo and Baidoa. The EDUs are hosted by the SCCI and are a key milestone initiative supported by the ‘Agro-technology development for economic growth in South and Central Somalia’ project, implemented by UNIDO, in coordination with the MoCI, and funded by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation.

Between March and April, the three EDUs have already delivered a first round of Enterprise Development Trainings to 87 business people and potential entrepreneurs, and started to support the local private sector community with dedicated one-on-one business counselling support services necessary to start-up an enterprise, improve business operations, support technology tie-ups and investment promotion. In the coming weeks the programme will also be deploying two credit facilities to EDU-supported clients for business loans up to $100,000.

The project has involved the participation of businesswomen and prospective women entrepreneurs, particularly in their role as community agents of change in their local communities and key drivers for Somalia’s economic development.