TRIESTE, Italy — A Somali delegation led by Mogadishu Port General Manager Ambassador Mohamed Ali Nur visited Trieste in Italy’s Friuli Venezia Giulia region from Sept. 26 to 30 to explore cooperation in port logistics, education and vocational training.
The delegation included Somalia’s Director-General of Ports Abdulkadir Haji Hassan “Gurey,” Prof. Khalid Macow, Somalia’s Deputy Ambassador to Italy and former State Minister at the Office of the Prime Minister Abdullahi Hamud.
The visit was organized following an invitation from Dr. Ahmed Faghi Elmi, president of ANOLF FVG APS, as part of the FORLIS project, supported by the Friuli Venezia Giulia regional government.
During the visit, the delegation held meetings with representatives of the regional government, the Regional Council, the Municipality of Trieste, the Prefecture, the Adriatico Maritime Academy and the Port of Trieste.
Discussions focused on port logistics, maritime education, professional skills and potential areas for longer-term cooperation. The two sides also explored the possibility of establishing a twinning partnership between the Port of Mogadishu and the Port of Trieste.
The FORLIS project plans to support 14 Somali young people — seven women and seven men — through a two-year programme focused on port operations and logistics. The participants are expected to begin Italian-language training in Mogadishu before continuing with further education and vocational training.
The initiative is intended to strengthen professional skills among Somali youth while supporting the development of Somalia’s port and logistics sector.
The visit also highlighted cooperation on workplace safety, technical training and sustainable employment opportunities for young Somalis.
The delegation’s meetings in Trieste are part of wider efforts to strengthen institutional and economic links between Somali authorities and Friuli Venezia Giulia, with port cooperation providing a potential area for future collaboration between Somalia and Italy.
