Algiers, Algeria – President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud spent Thursday in Algiers touring some of Algeria’s most advanced scientific and industrial institutions, signaling Somalia’s growing ambition to anchor its future economic development in technology-driven sectors.
His visits to the Saidal Group Pharmaceutical Complex, the National School of Artificial Intelligence, and the National School of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology formed a carefully choreographed message: Somalia is ready to build strategic partnerships that can accelerate innovation at home while attracting new investment from regional allies.
At the Saidal industrial compound, the president observed production lines and research facilities that have positioned Algeria as a major pharmaceutical producer in North Africa. His hosts showcased how investments in local manufacturing have reduced import dependence and improved access to essential medicines—an example Somalia hopes to draw from as it works to stabilize and expand its own health sector.
The tour then moved to the National School of Artificial Intelligence, where young researchers demonstrated tools and models designed to solve real-world challenges. For Somalia, whose public institutions are rebuilding after decades of conflict, the potential of AI to support governance, education, agriculture, and security is immense. Officials accompanying the president described the visit as a window into the technological path Somalia aims to follow, one grounded in youth talent and practical innovation.
The final stop at the National School of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology underscored Somalia’s interest in building future-facing industries. Faculty members presented breakthroughs in materials science and advanced engineering—fields that demand heavy investment but promise long-term economic transformation. The president’s presence there reflected a vision of Somalia not just catching up, but eventually competing in emerging scientific arenas.
Across all three institutions, the recurring theme was partnership. Somali officials say the country is actively seeking long-term cooperation agreements that can bring Algerian expertise to Somali universities, ministries, and private-sector innovators. The government also hopes that Algerian investors will see opportunity in Somalia’s untapped market, youthful population, and strategic location.
For a nation navigating security pressures and economic uncertainty, leaning into technology may seem ambitious. But Thursday’s engagements in Algiers illustrated a leadership determined to craft a different trajectory—one where scientific knowledge, industrial capacity, and innovation guide Somalia’s next chapter of growth.