by InTrieste
The Friuli Venezia Giulia regional government has launched a three-year cooperation project with Somalia aimed at training a new generation of port logistics professionals, as officials seek to strengthen international partnerships while supporting the development of maritime trade between the two territories.
The initiative, known as Forlis (Training and Cooperation for Port and Hinterland Logistics Between Italy and Somalia), was presented Monday at the regional government headquarters in Trieste. The program has been approved by the regional administration and is funded with €200,000 over 36 months.
Regional President Massimiliano Fedriga and Regional Councillor Pierpaolo Roberti, who oversees local autonomy, public administration, security and immigration, said the project combines vocational education with international cooperation in a sector considered strategically important for the region’s economy.
Training for a growing logistics sector
Forlis will begin by assessing the professional needs of the logistics systems in Mogadishu and Friuli Venezia Giulia, with particular attention to the ports of Trieste, Monfalcone and San Giorgio di Nogaro. That analysis will serve as the basis for a specialized training program for port and hinterland logistics technicians.
The pilot phase will involve 14 young Somali participants—seven women and seven men—who will complete a combination of online instruction and in-person training in Friuli Venezia Giulia.
The program also includes training at least four local instructors and establishing a dedicated classroom in Mogadishu, allowing educational activities to continue after the initial project concludes.
Building long-term cooperation
Regional officials described the initiative as part of a broader effort to develop stable institutional and economic ties with Somalia through education and technical expertise.
Fedriga said the region has expanded its cooperation with Somali institutions over recent years, moving from development projects toward more structured partnerships. He said the port sector offers an opportunity to connect Trieste and Mogadishu while helping develop the professional skills needed for Somalia’s logistics industry.
The project builds on earlier regional cooperation initiatives. In 2023 and 2025, Friuli Venezia Giulia co-financed projects in Somalia focused on solar energy and local economic development. Officials also credited the Somali community in the region and the local branch of ANOLF (National Association Beyond Borders) for helping foster the partnership.
Economic and strategic ambitions
Roberti said Somalia’s decades of civil conflict had significantly affected the country’s educational and professional systems, making technical training an important element of reconstruction.
He added that creating lasting relationships between the ports could eventually strengthen commercial connections with Trieste and open opportunities for broader economic collaboration in the future.
The initiative aligns with wider European and Italian cooperation policies in Africa, including the European Union’s Global Gateway strategy and Italy’s Piano Mattei, under which Somalia is identified as a priority partner country by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.
