GAROWE, Somalia Mar 17 2012 (Garowe Online) – President Abdirahman Mohamed Farole who is currently in Gardo received a delegation from Turkey that are planning on conducting development projects in Puntland, Radio Garowe reports.
President Farole and his ministers welcomed the Turkish International Cooperation and Development Agency (TIKA) to Gardo. President Farole thanked the delegation for visiting Puntland and Turkey’s continued assistance for Puntland and Somalia. TIKA is primarily the agency used by the Turkish government to coordinate humanitarian and development aid in countries across Europe and Africa. The agency will conduct projects that will renovate or rebuild schools, hospitals, airports, roads and government buildings. The agency has conducted projects in Mogadishu and southern Somalia in the past.
After leaving Gardo, TIKA officials traveled to Galkayo where Minister of Health Dr. Ali Abdullahi Warsame and the director of the Galkayo international airport, Abdirahman Saeed and other officials were awaiting them. Upon arrival the TIKA officials were given a tour of the airport and shown areas of the airport that needed renovation. Dr. Warsame told local media in Galkayo that TIKA will be conducting projects to rebuild the run-down road that links Galkayo and Garowe as well as renovating the Galkayo airport.
Before departing from Puntland, TIKA officials traveled to Garowe where they visited various sites in the capital including schools, health facilities and government compounds.
The Turkish government has assisted Somalia in humanitarian and development aid and is hosting the upcoming Somalia conference scheduled for June.
