A conference on Diaspora and local integration was launched to promote a unified vision for the development of Somalia in Mogadishu, in the presence of the Deputy Prime Minister, H.E. Mahdi Mohamed Gulaid (Khadar), and a number of ministers and members of the two Houses of Parliament.

The conference was organized by the Department of Diaspora of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, sponsored and co-operated with the African Union Mission to Somalia (AMISOM) as part of efforts to encourage the Somali diaspora to invest in the country, which will contribute to the growth of the economy in addition to creating new jobs.

The conference, which was attended by a large number of Somali expatriates and citizens at home, discussed ways to enhance the aspirations of Somalis towards peace, unity and development in the country. Some participants praised the citizens at home for their steadfastness and patience despite the ordeals.

In a speech delivered by Somali Deputy Prime Minister Mahdi Mohamed Gulaid (Khadar) at the conference, he called for strengthening the promotion of the Somali diaspora to return to the country to participate in building peace and reconstruction of Somalia, which is recovering from two decades of war, declaring that the country is moving forward steadily.