Somalia’s Industrial Sector Recovering, Offering Jobs
(AWP) - The industrial sector in Somalia is gradually recovering, thanks to improved security conditions in the capital, Mogadishu, where dozens of factories offer employment to university graduates and provide basic industrial needs.
Somalia witnessed political and security problems during the period that followed the 1991 civil war, which pushed the economy to the brink of collapse and wreaked havoc with most of the infrastructure in the Horn of Africa country.
In recent years, the economy has gradually begun to recover, and the private sector has made significant gains after a relative improvement in political and security conditions.
The Somali economy relies mainly on the sectors of agriculture, animal husbandry and fisheries, while the industrial sector is beginning to develop, providing jobs for many Somali young people.
According to government statistics, the unemployment rate among young Somalis is up to 70%.
Abdel-Aziz Aly Ahmed, the manager of a household blanket and sheet manufacturing company, said that one of the reasons he established the company is the country’s need for a factory producing blankets and sheets.
“So, we seek to meet the needs of the local market and provide jobs for citizens,” he added.
Sa’id Ahmed Sheikh said, “I have acquired a great deal of experience in this company. We are happy to be serving our fellow citizens. Usually, university students face problems getting a job,” he noted.
Saeed Hussein, an employee in a drinking water bottling plant, said he has worked at the facility for six years, along with other young people.
“We have acquired experience qualifying us to work in this line of business,” Hussein noted.
Reports by international organizations affirmed that the gross domestic product (GDP) in Somalia hit $7.70 billion in 2019, up from $4.1 billion 10 years ago, with a growth rate of 2.9%.