TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan’s representative to Somaliland, Allen Lou (羅震華), announced the construction of the “Taiwan Road,” which will connect the nation’s Egal International Airport to its capital, Hargesia.

At a ceremony on Wednesday (Sept. 4), Lou said Taiwan is proud to co-sponsor the first phase of construction to improve the well-being of locals and bolster bilateral relations, per the Horn Diplomat. The Taiwanese government will provide US$1.85 million, approximately 70% of the total cost, with Hargeisa Municipality covering the remaining 30%, Lou said.

The representative said the project is a testament to the trilateral cooperation between the Somaliland government, Hargeisa Municipality, and Taiwan. This is a result of the people-centered Taiwan model, he added.

Once completed, Taiwan Road will belong to Somalilanders, Lou said.

The road is one example of recent cooperation initiatives between the two countries. In late August, Taiwan helped launch a health information system at Somaliland’s Berbera Regional Hospital to improve the quality of health services in the country. In June, a Somaliland delegation visited Taiwan to discuss energy and minerals cooperation. 

Taiwan also donated NT$810,000 of seed funding for the new Cheetah Conservation Fund’s (CCF) education center in Somaliland. 

The two countries mutually set up representative offices in 2020 to boost closer ties.