00:00Somalia's business community is seeking an alternative shipping route as security concerns and fighting disrupt maritime traffic around Babamandeb and
00:09Strait of Umors.
00:11The country relies heavily on imports, with businesses traditionally bringing goods from Asia through Gulf states, including the United Arab
00:19Emirates, Oman and Saudi Arabia.
00:26The latest tensions in Babamandeb Strait, as well as those in Strait of Umors, have negatively impacted us, but we
00:34have also taken measures to avoid that disruption.
00:36We contacted the groups that export goods to change the route.
00:41In the past, Somali businesses would import and export commodities from Asia through Arab countries before bringing those commodities to
00:50Somalia, especially Mogadishu.
00:52So, because of the tensions around the streets, we changed that route.
00:58For the first time, we brought a ship carrying sugar directly from Sri Lanka.
01:02This could be a strategy we developed because of these tensions.
01:11The instability is also raising concerns among crew operating in the region.
01:17In the Arabian Gulf, also there is some trouble over there.
01:21There are some issues because of war and some, you know, deterioration.
01:28Even the Babamandeb also have, maybe start now, also some issue for the vessel.
01:33And this is, I think, will cause the, some difficult case to, for the transportation, for your sea transportation and
01:42for the trading.
01:46With longer routes potentially increasing cost and delays,
01:50disruptions could eventually affect prices and supplies in Somali markets.
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