Somalia is a beautiful country with a population of more than 18.7 million as per the stats of 2024. Somalia consists of historical places and monuments which make it a famous spot for tourists as well as archaeologists. This country had a nomadic lifestyle for many years. But the industrial revolution has changed the outlook of Somalia. Today, the world perceives Somalia as an industrial country where telecommunication, forestry, and fishing are the most booming sectors. This is the result of the recent foundation of the industrial sector in the country. This revolution paves the way for foreign businesses in the country. In these circumstances, Somali translation services hold special importance as businesses need to comply with the local laws in order to enter the Somali grounds.
So now let’s talk about Somalia’s shift from a nomadic lifestyle to being a country gaining recognition because of its fishery, telecommunication, agriculture, and forestry.
Somalia Known as the Horn of Africa
You must have heard that Somalia is famous for the name “Horn of Africa”. The reason behind this name is because of the geographical location of Somalia. It is because of the horn-shaped peninsula that runs into the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean. The large island resembles the shape of a horn. An island or peninsula is a piece of land surrounded by water, but one side is connected with the mainland.
Due to being surrounded by ocean from three sides, Somalia exports fisheries, and skin and hides and earns a great profit. In order to sustain its marine life, Somalia partners with foreign businesses. This includes a lot of paperwork, including contracts, certificates, and quality control documents. Somali translation helps these businesses understand the local laws and regulations so that business becomes easy for both parties. Considering that Arabic is also the official language of Somalia, the services of an Arabic translation agency are also very helpful.
Somalia’s Nomadic Lifestyle
The nomadic lifestyle in Somalia goes back thousands of years. More than 60% of the population of Somalis used to have a nomadic lifestyle. Let us explain this nomadic lifestyle to you. Here people are involved in changing homes for livestock and in the search of grazing land and water. Somalis were involved in livestock herding, where every animal played a separate role in supporting the nomadic economy. For instance, camels have the ability to survive in tough conditions, so people used them for transport and trade. Their meat was another means of earning money for the nomads. Other than camels, goats, and sheep were also responsible for helping nomads build a life. This livestock herding was the nomads’ primary way of surviving in the country. Even at that time trade was the custom of the country.
These nomads used to move in the dry seasons to the areas with more water availability. While in winters, they preferred to stay. These nomads had to face many environmental and social challenges due to which today this culture is present in just a few parts of the country. Now Somalis have built homes and are contributing to the industrial developments occurring in their country.
The Revolution of Industrial Development
Pastoralism was the major factor contributing to the economy of Somalia. Small-scale farming and livestock contributed to the GDP of the country. However, in the late 19th century, infrastructure development started which led to the establishment of ports and large-scale industries. It was after the independence of Somalia in the 1960s that led to the extensive development of its industrial sector. State-owned industries were founded such as food processing, textile, and sugar mills.
This industrial development created job opportunities for the local people. In the long run, these job opportunities demanded skilled and educated people. So the focus on education is also enhanced in the country. The growth of major Somali cities Mogadishu, Hargeisa, and Bosaso because of the foundation of major industries further paved the way for Somalis’ success.
| Year | City | Company Name | Industry |
| 2002 | Mogadishu | Hormuud Telecom | Telecommunication |
| 2010 | Mogadishu | Somaliland Beverage Industries (SBI) | Food & Beverage |
| 2014 | Mogadishu | Mogadishu Cement Factory | Construction |
| 2002 | Hargeisa | Telesom | Telecommunication |
| 2014 | Hargeisa | Dahabshiil Bank International | Banking & Finance |
| 2002 | Bosaso | Golis Telecom | Telecommunication |
| 1997 | Bosaso | Red Sea Fishing Company-RESFO | Fisheries |
The transformation of rural areas into urban ones also contributed to elevating the status of Somalia. International businesses entered the Somali grounds and brought success to the country.
| Year | Company Name | Industry |
| 2004 | Coca-Cola | Food & Beverage |
| 2012 | Turkish Airlines | Aviation |
| 2014 | Albayrak Group | Aviation |
| 2018 | Golis Energy | Renewable Energy |
| 1992 | Ericsson | Telecommunication |
One of the reasons why these above-mentioned industries thrive in Somalia is that the businesses took help from localization companies. For instance, we all know how Coca-Cola uses translation and localization services to speak to the audience in their language.
Final Words!
Since the independence of Somalia in 1960, the country has paved its way towards the industrial revolution. After the heavy industrial setup in Somalia’s three major cities, Mogadishu, Hargeisa, and Bosaso, Somalia has headed towards infinite growth and development. Foreign companies like Coca-Cola, Turkish Airlines, and Albayrak Group have entered Somalia, further making it a developing country.
