This archive report was first published on 26 August 2021.
On August 25, 2021, Somalia took a significant step towards improving its cross-border trade by launching a trade information portal. The portal, which can be accessed at https://stip.gov.so/, aims to provide a unified source for all cross-border trade information, thereby lowering costs and simplifying trade procedures for Somali importers and exporters.
According to Abdulkadir Sharif Shekhuna, the state minister at the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, the portal will provide businesses with easy access to information on import and export regulations and procedures, including licences, permits, and applicable fees.
"With the launch of the Somalia Trade Information Portal, we hope that our business community will have a useful tool to find the information necessary to facilitate their import-export activities," Mr Sharif said in a statement issued in Mogadishu, capital of Somalia.
The portal is part of the government's efforts to improve cross-border trade and facilitate Somalia's accession to the WTO by complying with the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement. The portal provides access to more than 90 laws, regulations, procedures, and other trade-related measures from over a dozen government agencies.
