Evidence of meeting #119 for Foreign Affairs and International Development in the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was somalia.
A video is available from Parliament.
1:55 p.m.
Mr. Michael Levitt (York Centre, Lib.)
Thank you.
We have time for one last question.
MP Alleslev, go ahead, please.
1:55 p.m.
Aurora—Oak Ridges—Richmond Hill, CPC
Thank you.
Thank you very much for being here.
To follow along from what my colleague was saying, the economy and security obviously go hand in hand. You are working—and we're helping you, I understand—on the security side. Could you go into a bit more detail on the economy? What would you argue as being the three key economic industry drivers that you're focused on, and what, briefly, are the challenges or obstacles within each one of those?
1:55 p.m.
Minister of Planning, Investment and Economic Development, Federal Government of Somalia
We have unlimited natural resources. In the fishery sector, for example, we have the longest coastline on the continent. We have untapped resources in oil and in the seas, in both the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea. The overall blue economy in Somalia is—
1:55 p.m.
Minister of Planning, Investment and Economic Development, Federal Government of Somalia
The blue economy, marine resources.
1:55 p.m.
Minister of Planning, Investment and Economic Development, Federal Government of Somalia
Second is agriculture. We have nine million hectares; we've only utilized one million so far, so there's huge potential. We are the largest livestock exporter to the Middle East. We exported over five million animals last year.
1:55 p.m.
Aurora—Oak Ridges—Richmond Hill, CPC
Your three are oil and gas, blue—fisheries—and agriculture.
1:55 p.m.
Minister of Planning, Investment and Economic Development, Federal Government of Somalia
Yes, and iron resources.
1:55 p.m.
Minister of Planning, Investment and Economic Development, Federal Government of Somalia
There's also a potential for renewable energy in the country. Throughout the year, there's strong radiation, strong solar, a strong sun that we can utilize to produce energy. The resources are endless. What we need is the capacity to utilize these resources.
If we focus on the fisheries sector, for example, I know that Canada's maritime regions can help us develop our capacity in the fisheries sector. That alone, if utilized properly, could yield over $1 billion a year in income for the government.
On agriculture, if we take advantage of the remaining eight million hectares, for example, you can imagine what we could produce. We have two major rivers in the country, and we barely use them for agriculture. We need the expertise and technical know-how to utilize and take advantage of these resources.
On livestock, instead of exporting live animals, we are thinking about setting up slaughterhouses, for instance, to ensure we also create jobs by setting up tanning factories that create jobs for youth, and then exporting shoes and other products as a result of that.
We know we have the resources. What we need is the technical know-how. We have identified key priority areas, as I mentioned, key productive sectors—
1:55 p.m.
Aurora—Oak Ridges—Richmond Hill, CPC
I apologize. I don't have a lot of time, so I just want to give you one more opportunity.
You said that you would like to have Canada consider Somalia as a priority for development. If you were competing with all the other countries right now and you were making your 30-second compelling argument for why Somalia, among other countries, should be chosen as a priority for development, what would that 30-second pitch be?
1:55 p.m.
Minister of Planning, Investment and Economic Development, Federal Government of Somalia
I can say it in three parts.
Number one is the special bond between Canada and Somalia. We are one of the largest African diasporas in Canada.
Number two, we are strategically located, so any investment you make into Somalia's long-term stability will yield results very quickly.
Third, we are ready and have plans in place, and we already have priorities set for quick-impact investments in the areas I mentioned, and there's also the willingness and political will from our side to make sure these things happen and all these priorities are realized.
2 p.m.
Mr. Michael Levitt (York Centre, Lib.)
Yes, thank you very much to both of you for travelling here to be with us.
Ambassador, this was very insightful testimony that is important for us to hear and to have on the record for us to consider as we move forward with finalizing our report.
I want to thank you both for your presence here today.
With that, we are adjourned.