In what could be a milestone in business between Kenya and troubled Horn of Africa nation Somalia, beverages giant Coca Cola has opened a company in Somaliland State.
Somaliland Beverages Company, a locally-owned firm operating under the Laas Group is the biggest foreign direct investment with an initial capital outlay of Sh1.5 billion (USD15 million).
“At first, I was very sceptical about coming to Somaliland. My fear was this is a country at war but I was shocked when I arrived here. SBI has opened up the manufacturing industry in this country,” Mr Obiero says as quoted by the Nation.
The factory lies about 40 kilometres from the capital Hargeisa in Jalelo. Apart from beverages plant, the group has also invested in milk processing and water production.
Several Kenyans have taken expert and technical jobs in the country, despite ongoing tussle over Indian Ocean maritime border, which has literally threatened peace between the two nations.
Despite the looming fallout between the two nations, Lieutenant Colonel Meshack Kishoyian, Commanding Officer Two Mechanised Infantry Battalion based in Kismayo said the relationship between the two countries remained cordial.
“KDF forms part of AMISOM, the military is straightforward, we are guided by our mandate and we have a mission which we are currently implementing in Sector Six, issues of politics will be handled at the level of politics,” he said as quoted by the Standard.
"Our mandate here is to establish and maintain a safe and secure environment within which the Somali people can rebuild their lives and prosper,”he said.
Somalia has been in shambles for the last three decades thus scaring away investors. Al-Shabaab militants had almost taken over the country before intervention by African Union.