Economy of Somalia

Somalia has a free market economy. Somalia has meager natural resources (or untapped resources such as Oil) and recent economic reverses has left its people increasingly dependent on remittances from abroad.Fact|date=August 2007 Its economy is pastoral and agricultural, with livestock — principally camels, cattle, sheep, and goats — representing the main form of wealth. Livestock exports in recent years have been severely reduced by periodic bans, ostensibly for concerns of animal health, by Arabian Peninsula states. Drought has also impaired agricultural and livestock production. Because rainfall is scanty and irregular, farming generally is limited to certain coastal districts, areas near Hargeisa, and the Jubba and Shebelle River valleys. The modern sector of the agricultural economy consists mainly of banana plantations located in the south, which have used modern irrigation systems and up-to-date farm machinery.

Economic progress in Somalia is decidedly mixed. As of January 2007, Somalia is still a fragile state with hundreds of thousands of refugees due to massive floods and the latest fighting of the civil war. However Somalia boasts lower rates of extreme poverty and, in some cases, better infrastructure than richer countries in Africa [ [http://rru.worldbank.org/Documents/PapersLinks/280-nenova-harford.pdf Anarchy and Invention] published report by the world bank last accessed at August 19 2007] . However with a GDP of $600 per capita the country is still extremely poor.

There are signs of growth in Somalia:Blockquote|Despite the seeming anarchy, Somalia’s service sector has managed to survive and grow… Mogadishu’s main market offers a variety of goods from food to the newest electronic gadgets. Hotels continue to operate, and militias provide security. -CIA Factbookcite web
title =Somalia
work = CIA Factbook
publisher =CIA
date= 19 December 2006
url =https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/so.html#Econ
accessdate = 2007-01-02 ]

Economy

GDP per capita of Somalia grew 37% in the 1960s, dropped to just 6% in the 1970s and recovered to 37% growth in the 1980s. Since the collapse of the state, Somalia has transformed from what Mohamed Siad Barre referred to as "scientific socialism" to a free market economy. Due to the lack of government oversight or statistics, and the recent war, it is difficult to calculate the size or growth of the economy. For 1994, the CIA estimated GDP at $3.3 billion [ [http://permanent.access.gpo.gov/lps35389/1995/wf950219.htm CIA World Factbook: Somalia (1995)] ] In 2001, it was estimated to be $4.1 billion. [ [http://www.bartleby.com/151/so.html#Economy CIA World Factbook: Somalia (2003)] ] In 2005, the CIA estimated GDP to be $4.809 billion. [https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/so.html CIA World Factbook: Somalia (2006)] ] Real growth in 2005 was projected at 2.4%.

The absence of central government authority, as well as profiteering from counterfeiting, rapidly debased Somalia's currency in 2001–2002. By the spring of 2002, the free market rates, such as used in the Bakaara Market, pegged the value of the Somali shilling (SoSh) emitted by the TNG to over 30,000 shillings to the U.S. dollar. In 2003, that rate had leveled off to 20,000 shillings to the dollar.cite news
title=2003/2004 Country Profile Somalia (sample)
url=http://store.eiu.com/product/30000203SO-sample.html
accessdate=2007-01-17 ] In April 2006, the value had recovered even further to 13,400, which is still below the rate of 10,100 SoSh to the dollar in January 2000. [ [http://www.fews.net/centers/innerSections.aspx?f=so&m=1001894&pageID=monthliesDoc 2.1 million face emergency despite early rains] ] This rate is far worse than the official currency exchange rate, which in January 2000, stood at 2,555.42 SoSh to the dollarcite web
title=FXHistory
url=http://www.oanda.com/convert/fxhistory
accessdate=2007-01-21] , and in January 2007, stood at 1,288.26 to the dollar.cite web
title=An MBendi Profile: Africa - Currency Exchange Rates
url=http://www.mbendi.co.za/cyexch.htm
accessdate=2007-01-17 ]

Agriculture and natural resources

Agriculture is the most important sector, with livestock accounting for about 40% of GDP and about 65% of export earnings. Nomads and semi-nomads, who are dependent upon livestock for their livelihood, make up a large portion of the population. For them a major economic income source is the export of animal skin.Fact|date=February 2008 After livestock, bananas are the principal export; sugar, sorghum, maize, and fish are products for the domestic market.

A small fishing industry has begun in the north where tuna, shark, and other warm-water fish are caught, although fishing production is seriously affected by poaching, piracy, and the lack of ability to grant concessions because of the absence of a generally recognized government. Aromatic woods — frankincense and myrrh — from a small and diminishing forest area also contribute to the country's exports.

Minerals, including uranium, are found throughout the country, but they have not yet been exploited.

Light industry

With the help of foreign aid, small industries such as textiles, handicrafts, meat processing, and printing are being established. Investors have returned in recent years; for example, a Coca-Cola bottling plant opened in Mogadishu in 2004. [cite news
last =Ferrett
first =Grant
title =Coca-Cola Makes Somalia Return
publisher =BBC News
date =6 July 2004
url =http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/3865595.stm
accessdate = 2007-01-02 ]

Transportation

Infrastructure such as roads are as numerous as those in neighbouring countries but of much lower quality. A World Bank report states the private sector has found it too hard to build roads due to high transaction costs and the fact that those who pay road fees are not the only ones using the road (see free rider problem), presenting a problem with recuperation of investment. The national road system nominally comprises 22,100 kilometers (13,702 mi.) of roads that include about 2,600 kilometers (1,612 mi.) of all-weather roads, although most roads have received little maintenance for years and have seriously deteriorated. There are no railways in Somalia, internal land based transportation is solely done by truck and bus.

Air transportation is provided by small air charter firms and craft used by drug importers/exporters. A number of airlines operate from Hargeisa. Some private airlines, including Air Somalia and Daallo Airlines, serve several domestic locations as well as Djibouti and the United Arab Emirates. In 1989, before the collapse of the government, the national airline had only one airplane. Now there are approximately fifteen airlines, over sixty aircraft, six international destinations, and more domestic routes. According to a World Bank report, the "private airline business in Somalia is now thriving with more than five carriers and price wars between the companies." [http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/COUNTRIES/AFRICAEXT/SOMALIAEXTN/0,,contentMDK:20398872~menuPK:367671~pagePK:141137~piPK:141127~theSitePK:367665,00.html "Africa Open for Business"] , World Bank, March 18, 2005.]

Bosaso currently has the busiest port in all of Somalia; other smaller ports are located at Merca and Brava. Absence of security and lack of maintenance and improvement are major issues at most Somali ports. The European Community and the World Bank jointly financed construction of a deepwater port at Mogadishu. The Soviet Union improved Somalia's deepwater port at Berbera in 1969. Facilities at Berbera were further improved by a U.S. military construction program completed in 1985, but they have become dilapidated. During the 1990s the United States renovated a deepwater port at Kismayo that serves the fertile Juba River basin and is vital to Somalia's banana export industry.

On January 17, 2007, new port and airport directors were appointed by the TFG.cite news
title=TFG finalizing establishment of gov’t bodies, appoints directors for Mogadishu, Kismayo airports
url=http://www.ethpress.gov.et/Herald/articleDetail.asp?articleid=60626
date=2007-01-17
publisher=Ethiopian Herald
accessdate=2007-01-17 ]

Telecommunications

Radiotelephone service is available to both to regional and international locations. The public telecommunications system has been destroyed or dismantled, however it has been rebuilt privately and is superior to what existed before [http://www.peterleeson.com/Better_Off_Stateless.pdf Better off Stateless] accessed on September 14 2007] . Somalia is linked to the outside world via ship-to-shore communications (INMARSAT) as well as links to overseas satellite operators by private telecommunications operators in major towns. Wireless/mobile communications has also become an economic force in Somalia.

Radio broadcasting stations operate at Mogadishu, Hargeisa, and Galkayo, with programs in Somali and some other languages. There are two television broadcast stations in Mogadishu and one in Hargeisa.

Sanctions by the US in 2001 in the wake of the 9/11 attacks due to suspicions of terrorist funding set back Somali Internet development.cite news
title=US shuts down Somalia internet
url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/1672220.stm
date=2001-11-23
publisher=BBC
accessdate=2007-01-17] Internet usage still continues to climb due to Internet cafés. From 200 users in all of Somalia in 1999cite web
title=Somalia: Internet Connectivity
url=http://www.uneca.org/aisi/NICI/country_profiles/Somalia/sominter.htm
date=1999-10-04
publisher=NUA Internet Surveys
accessdate=2007-01-17 ] , the number of users has grown to an estimated 90,000, or 11 persons per 1,000 in 2005, according to the ITU. The shared use of computers can be inferred by the lower estimate of 50,000 PCs in the country, for a ratio of about two users on average for every computer.cite web
title=ITC Statistics Database: 4. Internet indicators: Hosts, Users and Number of PCs
url=http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/icteye/Indicators/Indicators.aspx#
accessdate=2007-01-17
publisher=ITU ]

Financial sector

Remittance services has become a large industry in Somalia. Successful people from the world-wide diaspora who fled because of the war contribute to the economy around $1 billion annually.cite news
title=SOMALIA: Remittances - a lifeline to survival
url=http://www.irinnews.org/S_report.asp?ReportID=47162
date=2005-05-18
publisher=IRIN
accessdate=2007-01-17 ] In the absence of a formal banking sector, money exchange services have sprouted throughout the country, handling between $500 million and $1 billion in remittances annually. Due to the war, the actual size and growth rate of the economy is unknown.

Construction

Construction is sporadic, and at times heavily subsidized by foreign aid agencies. Projects, such as the UN WFP program to repair the air strip in Bardheere, are resuscitating infrastructure, homes and commercial sites that have laid in ruins for years or decades.cite news
title=Somalia: UN WFP helps the construction of airport landing strip in Gedo province
url=http://www.shabelle.net/news/ne1558.htm
date=2006-10-12
accessdate=2007-01-17
publisher=Shabelle Media Networks ] Some construction projects were begun under the Islamic Courts Union (ICU) in 2006, including re-opening the Mogadishu port and airport.cite news
title=Peaceful Somalia Attracts Investors
url=http://saylac.com/news/warkanov,02,2006.htm
accessdate=2007-01-17 ]

Energy and utilities

Electricity is furnished by entrepreneurs, who have purchased generators and divided cities into manageable sectors.

Petroleum exploration efforts, at one time under way, have ceased due to insecurity and instability. There are no proven oil reserves, but there are prospects to explore for oil in Puntland. Due to political instability and the protests of the Transitional Federal Government foreign investors are warned to not make deals until stability is restored.cite news
title=Abdillahi Yusuf’s Transitional ‎Government And Puntland Oil Deals
url=http://www.somalilandtimes.net/196/10728.shtml
publisher=Somaliland Times
accessdate=2007-01-10 ] Illegal production in the south of charcoal (as a biomass fuel) for export has led to widespread deforestation.

The private sector also supplies water. A report by WHO/UNICEF indicated that in 2004 only 29% of the population had access to safe drinking water.cite web
title=MDG assessment report (2006)
url=http://www.wssinfo.org/en/40_MDG2006.html
publisher=WHO/UNICEF
accessdate=2007-01-18 ]

Corruption

The owner of Daallo Airlines says, "Sometimes it's difficult without a government and sometimes it's a plus", but "Corruption is not a problem, because there is no government." [http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/COUNTRIES/AFRICAEXT/SOMALIAEXTN/0,,contentMDK:20398872~menuPK:367671~pagePK:141137~piPK:141127~theSitePK:367665,00.html "Africa Open for Business"] , World Bank, March 18, 2005.] [ [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gwloTePAtzQ Africa Open for Business - Somalia] on Youtube accessed at April 22 2008]

Statistics

"Given the lack of central government, these statistics should be viewed as best estimates:"

GDP:purchasing power parity - $4.809 billion (2005 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:2.4% (2005 est.)

GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $600 (2005 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:
"agriculture:"65%
"industry:"10%
"services:"25% (2000 est.)

Population below poverty line:NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
"lowest 10%:"NA%
"highest 10%:"NA%

Inflation rate (consumer prices):note - businesses print their own money, so inflation rates cannot be sensibly determined (2003 est.)

Labor force:3.7 million (very few are skilled laborers)(1993 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:agriculture (mostly pastoral nomadism) 71%, industry and services 29%

Unemployment rate:NA%

Budget:
"revenues:"$NA
"expenditures:"$NA, including capital expenditures of $NA

Industries:a few light industries, including sugar refining, textiles, petroleum refining (mostly shut down), wireless communication

Industrial production growth rate:NA%

Electricity - production:235.6 GWh (2003)

Electricity - production by source:
"fossil fuel:"100%
"hydro:"0%
"nuclear:"0%
"other:"0% (1998)

Electricity - consumption:219.1 GWh (2003)

Electricity - exports:0 kWh (1998)

Electricity - imports:0 kWh (1998)

Agriculture - products:
bananas, sorghum, maize, rice, sugar cane, mangoes, coconuts, sesame seeds, beans; cattle, camel, sheep, goats; fish

Exports:$79 million f.o.b. (2002 est.) according to CIA
~$265 million according to IMF [ [http://www.imfstatistics.org/DOT/ International Monetary Fund - Data and Statistics - BOP, DOT & IFS Data Browsers ] ]

Exports - commodities:livestock, bananas, hides, fish, charcoal, scrap metal

Exports - partners:
UAE 37.2%, Yemen 22.3%, Oman 10.1%, China 6%,
Kuwait 4.4%, Nigeria 4% (2003)

Imports:$344 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Imports - commodities:manufactures, petroleum products, foodstuffs, construction materials, khat

Imports - partners:
Djibouti 33.9%, Kenya 15.5%, Brazil 6.6%, UAE 5.1%, Thailand 4.2% (2003)

Debt - external:$2.6 billion (2000 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:$60 million (1999 est.)

Currency: Somali shilling (SOS)

Exchange rates:Somali shillings (So. Sh.) per US$1 - 2,620 (January 1999), 7,500 (November 1997 est.), 7,000 (January 1996 est.), 5,000 (1 January 1995), 2,616 (1 July 1993), 4,200 (December 1992)
"note:"the Republic of Somaliland, a self-declared independent country not recognized by any foreign government or international organization, issues its own currency, the Somaliland shilling (So. Sh.)

Fiscal year:NA

References

External links

*dmoz|Regional/Africa/Somalia/Business_and_Economy/Economic_Development
* [https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/so.html#Econ CIA World Factbook: Somalia]