Somalia’s cabinet has approved legislation to establish the country’s first statutory framework for certifying the origin of domestically manufactured goods, a move officials say is designed to strengthen export competitiveness, attract investment and integrate Somali producers into regional and global value chains.
This follows just a week after Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud signed the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Agreement into law after its ratification by the federal parliament, paving the way for Somalia’s membership to Africa’s single market.
Commerce and Industry Minister Jamal Mohamed Hassan hailed the legislation as a milestone in Somalia’s economic modernisation agenda, saying it would create a rules-based system for protecting the integrity of the “Made in Somalia”brand while improving the international marketability of locally produced goods.
The bill, approved by the Council of Ministers on Thursday, introduces a national legal framework for issuing Certificates of Origin, trade documents used to verify where products are manufactured and determine eligibility for preferential market access under bilateral and multilateral trade agreements.
Protecting products
If enacted by parliament, the legislation would, for the first time since Somalia’s independence, establish a nationally recognised legal regime governing the certification and protection of “Made in Somalia” products, bringing the country into line with international trading practice adopted by export-oriented economies.
For decades, the absence of a domestic certification framework has complicated export procedures for Somali businesses, with many producers facing difficulties obtaining internationally recognised certificates of origin required by customs authorities and overseas buyers.
Jamal says the new framework is intended to reduce those transaction costs, improve product traceability, enhance regulatory credibility and provide stronger provenance guarantees for Somali exports, key factors in expanding access to higher-value markets and building buyer confidence.
The government also expects the legislation to support industrial development by encouraging domestic value addition, stimulating manufacturing and providing investors with greater regulatory certainty.
The framework is expected to strengthen Somalia’s participation in regional trade initiatives, particularly the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), where rules of origin determine whether goods qualify for preferential tariff treatment.
The origin certification is regarded as a prerequisite for countries seeking to leverage free trade agreements, prevent transshipment and build internationally recognised national brands. The bill now moves to parliament for debate before it can become law.
