In a significant boost to Somaliland’s economy and international partnerships, the groundbreaking ceremony for the Berbera Quarantine Zone was held on Thursday 25th December 2025 in the coastal city of Berbera. The $20 million project, spearheaded by Taiwanese private investors through Central Sky International Trading Co., represents the first major private-sector investment from Taiwan in Somaliland. It also marks a pioneering joint venture involving investors from Saudi Arabia and the United States—the first of its kind in Somaliland and across East Africa.
The event was attended by Somaliland’s Minister of Livestock and Rural Development, Omar Shuaib Mohamed, who laid the foundation stone. The land was provided by the Berbera Local Government following an official request from the ministry. Minister Omar highlighted the facility’s role as the first modern quarantine project by Taiwanese investors in the Sahil region, describing it as a high-value asset that will position Berbera as a key hub for livestock traders and stakeholders. He emphasized that the zone will incorporate advanced technology to align Somaliland’s livestock exports with global quarantine and health standards.
Taiwan’s Representative to Somaliland, Hon. Allen C. Leo, addressed the ceremony, expressing his pleasure at participating in the event. “The $20M investment project marks not only the first major private investment from Taiwan, but also a business joint venture undertaken by Taiwan, Saudi Arabia and US private investors, ever in Somaliland and across East Africa,” he stated.
He added that the completed facility will serve not only as a quarantine plant to expand Somaliland’s livestock industry and export markets but also as an industrial park showcasing Taiwanese advanced technology and management expertise. Hon. Leo noted that the project’s success is expected to encourage further investments from Taiwan and the international community.
The Berbera Quarantine Zone, spanning a large area near Berbera Port, aims to modernize Somaliland’s livestock sector—one of the country’s largest export industries, primarily supplying cattle, sheep, goats, and camels to Gulf markets. By enhancing traceability, bio-security, and compliance with international standards, the facility is poised to increase export volumes, create jobs, and drive economic growth in rural areas.
This milestone follows earlier progress in November 2025, when Central Sky International secured Somaliland’s first national-level livestock quarantine license for an 88-hectare site. The groundbreaking signals the start of active construction, underscoring growing private-sector confidence in Somaliland’s stability and potential as a regional trade hub.
