MOGADISHU, June 16 (Xinhua) -- Somali and Ethiopian leaders on Saturday vowed to intensify trade and economic relations based on an agreed comprehensive framework which covers robust diplomatic ties between the two countries.
President Abdullahi Mohamed Farmaajo of Somalia and Abiy Ahmed, the Ethiopian Prime Minister said they will focus on economic growth, wealth creation and promotion of investment between the two nations in order to secure a prosperous future for their people and the entire African continent.
The two leaders who issued a communiqué following bilateral talks in Mogadishu agreed to invest in logistics and service provision.
"To aid these strengthened relations and strengthen diplomatic and consular presence in each other's countries, the leaders agreed to open reciprocal diplomatic and consular offices in major cities in Somalia and Ethiopia," the statement said.
The two leaders resolved to form the Joint Cooperation Commission (JCC) at ministerial level in order to spur diplomatic and trade activities on a reciprocal basis.
"The leaders also agreed to introduce measures to allow for the free movement of goods and services by introducing permits and expanding specific visas for travel for educational, sporting and cultural purposes to facilitate social integration between Somalia and Ethiopia," the statement said.
The Ethiopian leader arrived in Mogadishu early Saturday to seek ways of promoting trade and economic ties between Mogadishu and Addis Ababa.
During the meeting, both Abiy Ahmed and Farmaajo agreed to remove all trade and economic barriers and deepen and widen economic linkages by developing critical infrastructure in ports and key highways linking the two nations.
They said they will encourage incentivized investments particularly through the private sector in both countries, in order to create jobs and facilitate full economic integration between the two countries.
As part of efforts to attract and retain foreign investment to the two countries and the Horn of Africa region, the Somali and Ethiopian leaders agreed on the joint investment in four key sea ports between the two countries, and the construction of the main road networks and arteries that would link Somalia to mainland Ethiopia.
"The leaders agreed to constitute a designated joint technical team that would immediately embark on the key task of outlining this substantial undertaking," the statement said.
