Somali and Iraqi officials sat down recently to talk business, and livestock was front and center on the agenda. Somalia's foreign ministry confirmed that the two countries have agreed to explore ways to strengthen economic cooperation, with a particular focus on expanding agricultural ties and opening the Iraqi market to Somali livestock exports.
For Somalia, which has long relied on livestock as one of its most vital export commodities, finding new and stable markets is a serious economic priority. A deal with Iraq could offer Somali herders and traders access to a significant buyer in the region.
The agreement is still in the exploration phase, so the details of how trade would be facilitated between the two countries are yet to be worked out. What happens next in these talks will be worth watching closely.
Originally published by AllAfrica.