UDA Secretary General Senator Hassan Omar Hassan has attended a strategic trade workshop in Mogadishu focused on unlocking Somalia's economic potential through the country's integration into the East African Community (EAC).
The workshop was officially opened by Somalia's Deputy Prime Minister Salah Ahmed Jama and was organised under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
Hassan attended the National Trade Facilitation Committee (NTFC) Strategic Induction and Roadmap Workshop in his capacity as a member of the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) Committee on Communication, Trade and Investment.
The committee is chaired by Francine Rutazana.
Speaking during the workshop, Salah reaffirmed Somalia's commitment to the EAC and said the country was working to translate its regional commitments into national action plans.
The Deputy Prime Minister said Somalia's membership of the EAC presented opportunities for increased trade and economic development, urging member states to tap into the country's economic potential.
He also highlighted the scale of the EAC market, which brings together more than 300 million people, saying Somalia's integration could contribute to greater regional trade and development.
Rutazana described Somalia's accession to the EAC on November 24, 2023, as a historic milestone for both the country and the wider East African region.
She said the move reinforced the shared vision of building a prosperous and integrated East Africa based on solidarity, economic cooperation and mutual prosperity.
The workshop focused on strengthening Somalia's trade facilitation mechanisms and developing a roadmap for implementing commitments associated with its EAC membership.
Hassan's participation comes as the EALA committee continues engaging Somalia's government on trade, investment and regional integration following the country's admission into the EAC.