MOGADISHU (SD) – Somalia and Ethiopia trade agreement will help both countries enhance their economy, Somali president Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo said, hailing a deal inked on Sunday.

In a statement, Farmaajo said Somalia-Ethiopia commercial relationship bodes well for the entrepreneurs from both countries.

He added that Somalia would work with Ethiopia to ensure that unity between the two countries “continues to grow and is strengthened for the benefit of our people.”

“Farmaajo congratulates Somali entrepreneurs for their efforts in uplifting the economy & boosting regional trade after the 1st shipment of fish to Ethiopia at Aden Adde Int’l Airport. Fisheries & Transport Ministers Hon Abdullahi Bidhaan, & Hon. Durran Ahmed were present,” a twitter post by Villa Somalia reads in part.

The signing ceremony which took place at held at Aden Adde International Airport in was attended by Somali Minister of Fisheries and his Civil Aviation counterpart Abdullahi Warsame and Duran Ahmed Farah respectively.

The first consignment of 5,000 tonnes of fish was dispatched to Ethiopia while Ethiopia will import khat to Somalia.

Somalia banned imports of khat from Kenya last year following the collapse of relations between the two countries.

Traditionally, Kenya has been the major supplier of khat to Somalia, while highlands farmers in Ethiopia have dominated the Middle East market.

 It was an extremely lucrative trade and has for decades sustained comfortable lifestyles for the farmers and businesses in Kenya.