# Investing in Somalia: what flows in, where, and the rules > Investment in Somalia in numbers: foreign direct investment, the sectors, the rules for investors, the new stock exchange, funds and the main risks. Source page: https://calankii.com/en/economy/investing-in-somalia/ Last checked: 2026-11-12 Publisher: Calankii (https://calankii.com) ## How much is invested Foreign direct investment (FDI) rose to **$880 million in 2025**, about 7 percent of GDP, up from $765 million in 2024. The Central Bank says investors were mainly interested in **telecommunications, financial services, energy and real estate** ([Central Bank of Somalia, Annual Report 2025](https://centralbank.gov.so/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Annual-Report_2025.pdf)). Spending on buildings, machines and equipment reached about 26 percent of GDP in 2025, led by imports of machinery and by construction (same source). Somali banks are investors too: they held $215 million in company shares and $128 million in property investments in 2025 (same source). ## Who invests from outside - **Gulf and Turkey:** a Turkish company, Albayrak, runs and has modernised Mogadishu port ([Anadolu Agency](https://aa.com.tr/en/africa/turkish-firm-modernizes-and-runs-somalia-s-gateway/3700103)). DP World of Dubai expanded Berbera port under a $442 million joint venture agreed with Somaliland ([Gulf News](https://gulfnews.com/business/dp-world-signs-442m-joint-venture-with-somaliland-1.1825624)). - **Development finance:** the IFC has worked in Somalia since 2015 ([SONNA](https://sonna.so/en/ifc-somalia-sign-agreements-to-unlock-private-sector-investment-2)). Norfund committed $10 million in 2018 to a fund for small Somali businesses ([The East African](https://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/tea/business-tech/norfund-s-10m-to-support-somali-small-businesses-1399000)), and Swedfund invested $5 million in 2023 ([AVCA](https://www.avca.africa/news-insights/member-news/swedfund-invests-usd-5-million-in-somali-fund/)). - **Somalia's own development bank:** the Somalia Development and Reconstruction Bank announced its first investment in September 2026 ([Dawan Africa](https://www.dawan.africa/news/somalia-development-bank-announces-first-investment-at-mogadishu-forum)). ## The rules for investors - **Ownership:** foreign investors may register a fully owned Somali company without a local partner, and may set up a single-director company, according to SOMINVEST, the federal investment promotion office ([SOMINVEST, via 3E Accounting](https://www.3ecpa.com.hk/services/other-jurisdictions-setup/somalia-company-registration/)). - **Registration:** companies register online with the Ministry of Commerce and Industry at ebusiness.gov.so ([Radio Muqdisho](https://radiomuqdisho.so/somalia-launches-online-business-registration-system)). See [How to start and register a business](/en/economy/starting-a-business/). - **Finance laws:** a revised Financial Institutions Law (May 2025) and a Takaful (Islamic insurance) Law were passed in 2025 ([Central Bank of Somalia, Annual Report 2025](https://centralbank.gov.so/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Annual-Report_2025.pdf)). - **Somaliland** has its own investment and company rules. ## The stock exchange The **National Securities Exchange of Somalia (NSES)** was inaugurated in Mogadishu on 19 June 2025. It plans to list shares and sukuk (Islamic bonds), with telecoms and energy firms expected among the first listings ([Khusoko](https://khusoko.com/2025/06/23/somalia-launches-first-stock-exchange-in-2026/)). Officials aimed for at least 10 listed firms within two years ([Daba Finance](https://dabafinance.com/en/news/somalia-national-stock-exchange-launch-capital-markets-integration)). By May 2026 trading had not yet begun, and the national news agency warned of unregulated private share sales in the meantime ([SONNA](https://sonna.so/en/capital-without-guardrails-the-dangerous-gap-between-investor-appetite-and-regulatory-safety/)). ## What has changed for investors - **Debt relief** in December 2023 cut foreign public debt to $1.5 billion by 2025 ([Central Bank of Somalia](https://centralbank.gov.so/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Annual-Report_2025.pdf)). - **Trade blocs:** Somalia joined the East African Community in 2024 and ratified the African Continental Free Trade Area in 2026 ([EAC](https://eac.int/press-releases/3049-somalia-finally-joins-eac-as-the-bloc-s-8th-partner-state); [Dawan Africa](https://www.dawan.africa/news/somalia-ratifies-afcfta-becomes-50th-member-and-eyes-made-in-somalia-exports)). - **Payments:** instant bank payments and the national QR code standard launched in 2025 ([Central Bank of Somalia](https://centralbank.gov.so/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Annual-Report_2025.pdf)). ## The risks The IMF lists **more severe climate shocks, renewed regional conflict, further aid cuts and domestic challenges** as the main risks. It also says stronger anti-money-laundering rules are needed to win new correspondent banks, the foreign banks that move international payments ([IMF, 5 October 2026](https://www.imf.org/en/news/articles/2026/10/05/pr26319-somalia-imf-staff-concludes-2026-article-iv-consultation-mission)). Growth is forecast at 2.3 percent in 2026 (same source). The economy runs mostly on US dollars, and a new Somali shilling is still being prepared ([Central Bank of Somalia](https://centralbank.gov.so/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Annual-Report_2025.pdf)). ## Where to look further The federal investment promotion office SOMINVEST publishes sector guides and procedures for investors (sominvest.gov.so). The Central Bank publishes lists of licensed banks and financial firms (centralbank.gov.so). --- I want to help with this: email hello@calankii.com. Fix this page: email hello@calankii.com with the page link and your source.