Shuraako, the US Embassy, Nairobi, and the World Bank Group successfully co-hosted the Somali Investment Forum: Returning Capital for Growth (SIF) March 8-10, 2015. The two and half day event convened around 330 entrepreneurs, investors, sector experts, business development experts  and other stakeholders – all of whom are focused on Somalia – to discuss business opportunities and challenges, catalyze investment deals, and network.

Event Highlights:

• Hosted 14 sessions to advance dialogue on business, business associations, and private sector policy reform

• 45 Somali-based businesses pitched directly to investors with pledged capital representing five investment groups

• Shuraako secured pledged investment capital which acted as a matching fund for local financial institutions, diaspora investors, impact funds, and others

• 60 Somali-based businesses and business support services hosted booths to advertise their products and services, and network with key players, at the SIF Trade Show

• 54 scholarships were awareded to Somali businessmen/women to attend the Forum who could not have afforded to otherwise 

• Shuraako and the One Earth Future Foundation published two reports in conjunction with the SIF. Powering Progress: The Potential of Renewable Energy in Somalia and Building a Business Ecosystem in Somalia: The Case for Business Associations that were used to guide session content