Jiddeh (Sunatimes) The Islamic development bank in Jeddah said they are going to import one million livestock from Somalia this year in the Hajj period. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia announced earlier that it will increase its livestock import from the horn of Africa regions.

Ali Mohamud Haji, a representative from the Somali embassy in Saudi who spoke to Bar-kulan says the revelation is an important step asserting that the Somalis have been selling their livestock to Saudi for a period of 60 years.

The economies of the Somali businessmen who export livestock have greatly leaped forward. Centers for checking the animals’ health have been set up in many parts of Somalia to ensure their health status before exportation.

Exportation of livestock from the Horn of Africa region to Saudi Arabia increased last year when the Kingdom lifted a ban that was imposed on Somalia’s livestock export.

However, the escalating drought in the Horn of Africa could hinder the expected increase of livestock to the Saudi Kingdom.

By Amiira Mohamed