Saudi Agriculture Minister defends lifting ban on livestock

[SanaagLion]

Saudi Agriculture Minister defends lifting ban on livestock from Somaliland

Written by Qaran News
Feb 05, 2010 at 10:49 AM
Riyadh (Qaran news)- The Saudi Arabian Agriculture minister, Dr. Fahd bin Abdulrahman Balghunaim, stated that he has complete confidence in the certificates issued at the Berbera livestock processing centre in Somaliland operated by Gulf International of the United Arab Emirates.

In a press conference held at the ministry in Riyadh on Tuesday, February 2nd, 2010, Minister Bin Abdulrahman Balghunaim responded to an article in Al-Riyadh, a Saudi newspaper, which stated "that lifting ban on Somali livestock was hasty, and the ministry took the decision without sending an inspection team to the Berbera processing centre and the one in Bosaso, Puntland"

Dr. Bin Abdulrahman Balghunaim stated "The ministry took the decision to lift the ban after receiving a report from the World Organisation for Animal Health, OIE, who had sent expert technicians to both Berbera and Bosaso. The report confirmed that both processing centres had fulfilled the necessary requirements to process livestock for exporting to the Saudi Arabian market within the guidelines set by the OIE and the Saudi veterinary officials"

Minister Bin Abdulrahman Balghunaim acknowledged that the ministry received a request from the transitional federal government in Somalia's minister for Commerce, requesting that Saudi Arabia should not work with the Berbera processing centre, but a subsequent letter from the same minister negated the previous request.

There have been reports from various reliable sources that a businessman by the name of Mr. Abu Yaasir who has a controlling interest at the Djibouti livestock processing centre has been agitating for the resumption of the Saudi ban on livestock from Somalia.

Mr. Abu Yaasir had been in competition with Saudi businessman, Sheikh Al-Jaabari, for the Berbera processing centre project, but, had ultimately lost to Sheikh Al-Jaabari's bid.

The article in the Al-Riyadh newspaper included allegations that the Berbera processing centre was not up to standard and that the Saudi government rejected the request from the transitional federal government in Somali to ban livestock from Berbera in Somaliland.

The article in the Al-Riyadh argued for the resumption of the ban on all Somali livestock and contained quotes, exclusively from Mr. Abu Yaasir and his right hand, a Mr. Salah Al-Hindi from Egypt.