Somaliland has “vast” investment potential in undeveloped oil and gas deposits, Somalia’s breakaway region’s foreign minister told Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen on Wednesday, pushing business prospects during a high-profile visit.

Somaliland seceded from Somalia in 1991, although its independence has received little international recognition. While Somalia has been embroiled in a three-decade civil conflict, the region has remained mainly quiet.

Taiwan, which China claims as its own territory and is similarly diplomatically isolated, and Somaliland established representative offices in each other’s capitals in 2020.

Somaliland Foreign Minister Esse Kayd told Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen that the country welcomes “giant” Taiwanese enterprises to invest and trade with them.

Somaliland has “vast” investment potential in undeveloped oil and gas deposits, Somalia’s breakaway region’s foreign minister told Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen on Wednesday, pushing business prospects during a high-profile visit.

Somaliland seceded from Somalia in 1991, although its independence has received little international recognition. While Somalia has been embroiled in a three-decade civil conflict, the region has remained mainly quiet.

Taiwan, which China claims as its own territory and is similarly diplomatically isolated, and Somaliland established representative offices in each other’s capitals in 2020.

Somaliland Foreign Minister Esse Kayd told Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen that the country welcomes “giant” Taiwanese enterprises to invest and trade with them.

China has effectively forced Taiwan out of Africa diplomatically in recent years, with only tiny eSwatini retaining full connections with the island.

As it works to enforce its sovereignty claims, China has increased pressure on countries not to interact with Taiwan.

In an apparent dig at China’s resistance to their Taiwan alliance, Kayd stated that Somaliland was a sovereign nation with the right to foreign connections.

“All coercive or threatening efforts to prevent such collaboration amongst international partners…. contribute nothing to the peace and security that the area and the globe deserve.”

Taiwan has been eager to demonstrate its selflessness as a development partner for Somaliland, donating 150,000 doses of its locally made Medigen COVID-19 vaccine last month.

Somaliland, strategically located on the Horn of Africa, borders Djibouti, where China operates its first overseas military post.