A high-level Somali delegation, led by Amb. Mohamed Ali Nur Ameriko, General Manager of the Port of Mogadishu, paid a working visit to the Italian city of Trieste on October 4, 2026. The delegation included key officials such as General Manager of Somali Ports, Abdulkadir Haji Hassan (Gureey), Prof. Khalid Macow, Deputy Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Somalia to Italy, and former Minister of State in the Office of the Prime Minister, Abdullahi Hamud.
The visit was made at the invitation of Dr. Ahmed Faghi Elmi, Chairman of ANOLF FVG APS, as part of the FORLIS project, which aims to strengthen Somalia-Italy cooperation in port logistics, education, and youth skills development. The project is supported by the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region. During their stay, the Somali delegation held meetings with regional authorities, including the Regional Council, the City Council of Trieste, and the Prefettura.
The meetings focused on exploring future cooperation opportunities, with a key discussion point being a plan to twin the Port of Mogadishu with the Port of Trieste. This initiative aims to enhance cooperation and exchange of expertise in port management and logistics. The FORLIS project also includes a component to provide 14 young Somalis, comprising 7 girls and 7 boys, with two years of education and training in logistics and port operations.
As part of the project, the young Somalis will first study the Italian language in Mogadishu before proceeding to further their training. The visit was seen as a step towards strengthening ties and cooperation between Somali institutions and the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region, with a particular focus on education, vocational training, job safety, and port logistics development.
The Somali delegation also met with the management of the Trieste Port, where they discussed potential areas of collaboration and knowledge sharing. The FORLIS project seeks to create sustainable opportunities for young Somalis, and the visit highlighted the importance of international partnerships in achieving this goal.
The visit concluded with a renewed commitment from both sides to enhance cooperation and explore new avenues for collaboration. The outcome of the visit is expected to contribute to the development of Somalia's port infrastructure and the empowerment of its youth through education and vocational training.
Key points
- The Somali delegation's visit to Trieste aims to strengthen cooperation between Somalia and Italy in port management and youth development.
- The FORLIS project includes a component to provide young Somalis with education and training in logistics and port operations.
- The visit discussed plans to twin the Port of Mogadishu with the Port of Trieste to enhance cooperation and exchange of expertise.
