An African president used the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos to pitch potential business deals to Eric Trump, son of US President Donald Trump, as part of a broader effort to attract foreign investment and raise international visibility, according to Reuters.
The president of Somaliland, Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi, held closed-door discussions with Eric Trump, an executive in the Trump family business, outlining investment opportunities in the self-declared republic, which is not internationally recognized. A key focus of the talks was the Berbera port, a strategically located deep-water facility along one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes, CNBC Africa reported.
Abdullahi said the meeting “went very well” and described it as part of Somaliland’s strategy to engage influential global business figures and policymakers. He also confirmed holding separate discussions with Israel’s President Isaac Herzog, as Somaliland seeks to expand its diplomatic and economic ties.
Neither Eric Trump’s representatives nor the White House commented on the meeting. Analysts say the outreach underscores how African leaders are increasingly using global forums like Davos to directly court private capital and influential business networks, particularly as competition for investment intensifies across emerging markets, as noted in commentary cited by investing.com.
