After decades of being only able to import used machinery, Somali farmers are looking forward to accessing reliable new machinery from Case IH, as well as service and parts support, thanks to a new partnership with Gaalooge Cooperative.
The first-of-its-kind partnership between Gaalooge Cooperative, an agro-cooperative group based in Baidoa, Somalia, and global machinery company, CNH Industrial, has been inaugurated at an event at the Ministry of Commerce and Industry of the Federal Government of Somalia in Mogadishu.
The partnership enables, for the first time in recent history, the supply of new agricultural machinery to Somalia. Case IH, a brand of CNH Industrial, with its famous red livery and reputation for reliability, is the brand of farm machinery that Somali farmers will get to experience.
The Gaalooge-Case IH partnership was initiated at the Italy-Somalia Business Forum in Mogadishu in December 2019 where negotiations were supported by teams of experts from the Enterprise Development Units in Somalia and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) Somalia Programme.
The Ministry of Commerce and Industry of the Federal Government of Somalia, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry of South West State, Somali and South West State Chamber of Commerce and Industry, provided technical assistance while the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS) provided funding and facilitated by UNIDO as part of the Agro-Technology Development for Economic Growth in South and Central Somalia project, which aims to foster inclusive and sustainable industrial development of the sector in Somalia. Finance was provided through the credit facility established by UNIDO and powered by IBS Bank.
The ceremony was attended by officials including E. Khalif Abdi Omar, FGS Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Minister; Mr Massimiliano Bertollo, First Secretary Embassy of Italy in Somalia; Mr Adan Abdullahi Mohamed, Chairman Gaalooge Cooperative; Ms Amina Abdullahi Osman, Technical
Expert Gaalooge Cooperative; Mr Ygor Scarcia, UNIDO Somalia O.i.C. & Industrial Development Expert, as well as members of parliament, government authorities and a large number of farmers.
Improved access to modern agricultural machinery, such as JXT tractors from Case IH, will be key to rebuilding the country of Somalia, starting with the agriculture industry.
