ANKARA (SD) – Somalia and Turkey have discussed ways to enhance economic reforms achieved by the Horn of Africa nation, finance minister said on Tuesday.

Abdirahman Duale Beileh has held talks with his Turkish counterpart in Ankara.

“I am honoured to have met with Mr Lütfi Elvan, the Turkish Minister of Finance. We have discussed the country’s financial transformation and reforms, the way forward,” Beileh said. “Turkey is an important partner and supporter of our national development.”

The development comes barely a month after Turkish government announced a package to contribute to debt relief to Somalia by pledging around $2.4 million in Special Drawing Rights (SDR).

Turkey, a close ally to Somalia, which had been supporting the country since 2011 sat up its biggest overseas military base in Somalia’s capital to boost the capacity of Somali army which is struggling to defeat al-Shabaab.

According to Somali and Turkish officials, the base can train more than 10,000 at once.

To build as presence In East Africa, Turkey also reopened its Embassy in Mogadishu following over two decade hiatus due to civil war in Somalia.