**Paris, 05 December 2013**
Accelerating commercial and economic recovery will spell the final defeat of
terrorists in Somalia, Her Excellency Fawzia Yusuf H. Adam, Deputy Prime Minister
and Foreign Minister, said in Paris today.
Speaking ahead of the two-day Élysée Summit for Peace and Security in
Africa hosted by the French President François Hollande, the Foreign Minister
invited foreign groups to invest in Somalia.
“I encourage all foreign companies looking for commercial opportunities in new
markets to give serious consideration to Somalia, a country that is recovering from
conflict and is open for business. When they arrive they will find one of the most
commercially minded populations in Africa and a people who thrive on free trade. Our
economic recovery is already underway and I invite dynamic, entrepreneurial
companies to be a part of it.”
The Foreign Minister met Stève Gentili, Presdent of BRED-Banque Populaire,
France’s second largest bank, and had a wide-ranging discussion about the
Somali government’s ongoing reforms, commercial opportunities for French and
foreign companies in Somalia and foreign investment legislation.
“A strong and stable Somalia will allow our natural entrepreneurial talents to
flourish freely,” the Minister said. “We must remember that a prosperous
Somalia is the nail in the coffin for Al Shabaab.”
The Foreign Minister is attending the two-day Élysée Summit for Peace
and Security in Africa, which is set to bring together heads of state and leaders of
more than 50 countries, together with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, African
Union Commission Chairperson Nkosazana Dlaimini Zuma, President of the European
Commission José Manuel Barroso and senior representatives from the World
Bank, IMF and African Development Bank.
Somalia’s delegation includes General Bashir Mohamed Jama, head of the National
Intelligence and Security Agency.
**More news on Twitter from @FawziaYusufAdam**
**ENDS**
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