Mogadishu, Somalia – The growing community of entrepreneurs in Somalia took center stage on Wednesday as the Minister for Agriculture and Irrigation, Mohamed A. Hayir Maareeye, formally opened the FIG–Somalia Learning Event, a milestone gathering that highlighted the country’s quiet but determined economic transformation. The event brought together policymakers, development partners, and young innovators whose ideas are reshaping the nation’s business landscape.
The forum placed a spotlight on the expanding network of micro, small, and medium enterprises that form the backbone of Somalia’s recovering economy. Backed by EU support, the Financial Institutions for Growth initiative has begun unlocking financing opportunities for more than 13,700 businesses across the country. For many of these enterprises, especially in rural and previously underserved areas, access to capital has long been a barrier that stifled growth, weakened resilience, and forced promising ventures to fade before they could take root.
At the gathering, stories of progress flowed easily. Entrepreneurs who once struggled to secure even modest loans are now hiring staff, buying equipment, and widening their markets. The shift is particularly visible among women and youth, who are increasingly steering new business models in agriculture, food processing, renewable energy, and digital services. Their participation is driving job creation at a scale that is beginning to ripple through local economies, offering families new sources of income and communities a deeper sense of stability.
Officials at the event underscored that strengthening MSMEs is not merely a financial exercise but a national investment in long-term prosperity. As Somalia navigates the challenges of recovery and reconstruction, these enterprises are emerging as engines of innovation and signposts of resilience, adapting quickly to changing market needs and responding to gaps in essential goods and services.
The FIG–Somalia Learning Event closed on an optimistic note, with participants reflecting on the momentum already achieved and the opportunities still ahead. The expanding access to finance promises to shape a more inclusive economy—one in which young people can build careers at home, women can scale their businesses with confidence, and communities can depend on a diversified and vibrant private sector.
For many in the room, the gathering was more than a policy moment. It was a reminder that Somalia’s economic renewal is not a distant goal but a process underway, powered by ordinary citizens with extraordinary determination.