New York (Sunatimes) Somalia’s Prime Minister Abdiweli Mohamed Ali signs the deal with Italy’s foreign Affairs minister Franco Frattini in New York.

Italy and Somalia has signed a deal that will see Somalia receive €15 million development aid which was earlier aimed at the former Somali central government to meet its development goals.

Somalia’s Prime Minister Abdiweli Mohamed Ali signed the deal with Italy’s foreign Affairs minister Franco Frattini on the sideline with the United Nations annual meeting in New York.

In a join press conference, Frattini said Italy is committed in strengthening its relation with Somalia and supporting the Somali government in development projects.

Prime Minister Abdiweli Mohamed Ali thanked the Italian government for its continuous support to the Somali government and organizing the UN Somalia conference which is set to kick off on 23 September this year.

Italy and Somalia’s former central government have in 1988 signed a deal giving Somalia almost 15 million Euros for development projects. But the deal was immediately suspended after the fall of Siad Barre’s government.

By Abdisalan Abdulle