Hormuud Telecom

By Olad Hassan

Mogadishu is the largest city and the capital of Somalia; it’s the commercial and financial center of the country, situated in the Southward of the country.

After the collapse of the central government in 1991, Mogadishu has been the stage for nearly 20 years of fighting which left many of its residents dead, others fled from the city to neighbouring countries.

Despite civil chaos, and daily Fighting, Mogadishu is a business growing city in the east Africa.

Both, its seaport and airport- controlled by African Union Peacekeeping forces, backing the weak Somali government- are functioning properly, supporting the business to improve.

In The City, Bakara Market is the biggest trading center in the country and a strong hold of anti-government Islamists, and a target of the government and the Peace keeping forces. Residents say, Islamists lob mortars from the market to the government controlled areas causing instant mortar reply from the peacekeepers that prevents the business to continue some hours or a day.

Telecommunication network companies play an important role in the city’s business. More than three private Mobile and land-line operators’ headquarters are located in the city. Hormuud Telecom is a private enterprise established in 2002 in southern and central Somalia, and located in Bakara Market business center. It’s the most used mobile operator in the country.

“Nearly 700 Somalis own shares, and more than 1000 people work in it’s headquartering in restive Mogadishu”, Says Ahmed Saudi, the president of Hormuud.

Telecom Somalia is the first major privately owned company providing telecommunications in Somali territory. It’s headquarter is also in the city center. There are other telecom companies like Nationlink Telecom and Somafone, giving the people sufficient services of landline and Mobile in Mogadishu.

Fund transfer services is an other business factor in the city, more than 15 private money transfer companies run in the City. With an estimated nearly $1 million USD monthly remitted to the capital by the Somali Diaspora via Money transfer companies, known as HAWALA in the country.

Moreover, Industries are becoming in the city, nearly 10 private productive industries are also in Mogadishu.

Coca cola is the world’s largest beverage company, largest manufacturer, distributor and marketer of non-alcoholic beverage concentrates. It’s one of the important industries in the city. It distributes its product different directions of the city.

Other industries include; Afi Water Purification Company, Banadir Sweats Company, many detergent companies and other use full and productive industries for the residents in the city.

In the middle of Anarchy and daily fighting between the Somali federal Government and the Islamic militants in the capital, Mogadishu, business seems booming.