The restaurants and beauty salons scattered around Ankara and Istanbul are significant indicators of the growing Somali population in Turkey. Within the last two years, dozens of restaurants and coffee shops were opened and offer famous Somali dishes and tea.

Besides a small number of other nationalities, Somalis living in Turkey gather in these places to socialize and exchange ideas. Arguably, the Somali trade offices, coffee shops and restaurants brought color to the Turkish markets and contribute to the economy of the country through taxes but also serve as an indispensable bridge for Turkey's endeavor to integrate with the East Africa market.

Despite the challenges of language and residence permissions that Somalis are facing in Turkey, the mounting multi-faceted relations between the two countries with the prospects they bear keep the diaspora determined to reap the fruits and take advantage of the enticing opportunities that unfold. It's the responsibility of the two governments to cooperate in the facilitation of the work and residence requirements for the Somali community, as without them, the intended integration of the two countries cannot be successful.