Kenya’s diplomatic outreach also extended to the Somali economic sector when, on March 11, 2025, Ambassador Iringo held a bilateral meeting with Hon. Mohamed Nur Abubakar Shariff, Somalia’s State Minister for Commerce and Industry. This dialogue focused on the finalization of a Kenya–Somalia Trade Cooperation Framework, which aims to address long-standing trade imbalances and bureaucratic hurdles impeding bilateral commerce.
Both sides expressed strong interest in unlocking private sector collaboration, particularly in agro-processing, retail, logistics, and light manufacturing. The Minister highlighted Somalia’s openness to Kenyan investments and expertise, while the Ambassador emphasized Kenya’s readiness to support Somali business linkages through trade missions, exhibitions, and technical training.
Kenya views Somalia not just as a neighbour but as an emerging trade partner with immense untapped potential. Cross-border commerce — especially through ports like Kismayo and maritime routes connecting to Lamu and Mombasa — is poised to grow exponentially if properly managed. The envisioned trade framework is expected to facilitate licensing, customs harmonization, dispute resolution, and mutual recognition of standards.
