Ankara – Somali and Turkish officials announced the start of the implementation of a cooperation agreement on labor and social affairs after a signing ceremony held in the Turkish capital, Ankara.

The event marked the activation of a memorandum of understanding signed in June 2016 between the Ministries of Labor and Social Affairs of Somalia and Türkiye, aimed at strengthening institutional cooperation in the labor sector.

The ceremony was co-chaired by Türkiye’s Minister of Labor and Social Affairs, Professor Vedat Işıkhan, and Somalia’s Minister of Labor and Social Affairs, Professor Salim Aliyo Ibro. The event was attended by Somalia’s Ambassador to Türkiye, senior government officials, including Director General Yusuf Hassan, and members of both delegations.

Following the signing, the two sides held a technical meeting focusing on 15 priority areas scheduled for implementation during the 2026–2027 period. These areas include employment promotion, vocational training, occupational safety and health, and the development of social services.

Officials stated that both governments agreed to accelerate the execution of the agreement’s provisions in order to strengthen Somalia’s labor institutions and deepen long-term, sustainable cooperation with Türkiye.

The agreement is expected to support capacity-building efforts within Somalia’s labor sector while facilitating the exchange of expertise and best practices between the two countries in the fields of employment policy and social development.