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November 10, 2009 22:52 PM

Somalia Seeks Malaysia's Help With Its Economic Development

From Nor Baizura Basri ISTANBUL, Nov 10 (Bernama) -- Somalia, which is in transition to a new government, has sought the help of Malaysia to develop the country especially its economy, Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said.

During his bilateral meeting Monday with the Deputy Prime Minister of Somalia, Sharif Hassan Sheikh Aden, the latter had said that the civil war in the country had decimated many of its people and ravaged its economy.

"Presently they are in transition to a new government and the current situation is not stable but they do have the intention of solving the conflict which involves several tribes in Somalia," he told reporters before returning to Malaysia.

"If this (situation) can be overcome, he (Sharif Hassan) wants Malaysia to help develop Somalia. This requires us to study the matter carefully," he said.

Muhyiddin was here on a two-day visit, leading the Malaysian delegation to the Economic Summit held here Monday in conjunction with the 25th summit of the Standing Committee for Economic and Commercial Cooperation (COMCEC) of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC).

Besides Somalia, the minister also had bilateral meetings with other leaders of OIC member nations, namely the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad Khalifah Al-Thani, Prime Minister of Mauritania, Moulaye Ould Mohamed Laghdaf, and the President of Sierra Leone Ernest Bai Koroma.

During his 30-minute meeting with Somalia, Muhyiddin also suggested that officials from the country be sent to Malaysia to undergo human resources training both for administraton and economic development purposes.

"We have the Malaysian Technical Cooperation Programme (MTCP) scheme under the Foreign Ministry. Therefore, we can train their officers under the programme and send our officers to their country and so on," he said.

Somalia is rich with natural resources and their primary activity is agriculture, he said.

"We will see how Malaysia can help with Somalia's economy especially in the agriculture sector and fisheries," the deputy prime minister said.

Malaysia will be able to also help in the areas of education.

Muhyiddin also disclosed that several leaders of OIC member nations had informed him of their intention to visit Malaysia next year including the Emir of Qatar and Syrian President Bashar Assad.

-- BERNAMA

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