About HIIL
Institutional statement
HIIL Industrial Consortium (HIIL) is a professional, multidisciplinary industrial membership and development platform established as an initiative to advance the industrial sector of the Puntland State of Somalia. Founded by a group of engineers, researchers and sector experts, HIIL organises and connects Puntland’s industrial enterprises, strengthens their collective voice, and supports them through industrial research, workforce training, productivity and quality improvement, market access, investment promotion and strategic partnerships.
HIIL acts as a bridge between industry, government, academia and development partners. It proposes to operate in affiliation with the Puntland Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture under a Memorandum of Understanding, through which the Chamber provides institutional legitimacy and an established channel for private-sector engagement, while HIIL provides the industrial sector with dedicated organisation, knowledge and services.
Overall goal
A coordinated, competitive and growing industrial sector in Puntland, organised through a credible membership platform that strengthens enterprises, generates reliable industrial knowledge and connects local producers to markets and investment.
Name and meaning
In Somali, hiil conveys support, backing and solidarity — "HIIL — standing behind Puntland’s industries". Planned seat: Bosaso, with representation in Garowe.
Strategic objectives
| Code | Strategic objective | Statement |
|---|---|---|
| SO1 | Organise and represent | Establish a credible, inclusive membership platform for Puntland’s industrial enterprises and give them a collective, evidence-based voice in industrial policy. |
| SO2 | Know the sector | Generate reliable industrial data, research and publications that inform enterprises, investors and policy-makers. |
| SO3 | Build capability | Develop the skills of the industrial workforce and the productivity, quality, safety and technology of industrial enterprises. |
| SO4 | Open markets | Connect Puntland’s producers to domestic, regional and international buyers and to industrial investment, without promising outcomes HIIL cannot guarantee. |
| SO5 | Showcase | Establish the Puntland Industries Expo as the annual flagship platform for Puntland’s industrial capabilities. |
| SO6 | Sustain | Build a financially and institutionally sustainable organisation with strong partnerships and a functioning digital platform. |
Programmes and services by pillar
| Pillar | Programme | Core content |
|---|---|---|
| P1 | 1.1 Industry Registration Programme and the Puntland Industrial Register | Mapping and registration of industrial enterprises; unique industry identification numbers; downloadable industry profiles; renewal. Registration is free of charge (proposed) to maximise coverage. |
| P1 | 1.2 Membership Programme | Six membership categories; application, admission, renewal, suspension, termination; member services and benefits. |
| P1 | 1.3 Sectoral Industrial Committees | One committee per sector cluster; elected by cluster members; feeds priorities to the Steering Committee. |
| P1 | 1.4 Public–Private Dialogue and Policy Advocacy Programme | Structured dialogue with Puntland government institutions, coordinated with the Chamber; evidence-based policy recommendations; annual industrial policy forum. |
| P2 | 2.1 Puntland Industrial Sector Report (annual) | Flagship publication; verified data from the Register; trends, constraints, opportunities. |
| P2 | 2.2 Puntland Industrial Investment Opportunities Report | Documented, assessed investment opportunities by cluster. |
| P2 | 2.3 Industrial Market and Value-Chain Studies | Cluster and product studies; import substitution analysis. |
| P2 | 2.4 Industry Policy Briefs | Short evidence-based briefs for government and the Chamber. |
| P2 | 2.5 Industrial Enterprise Directory | Public directory generated from the Register (consented, non-confidential fields). |
| P2 | 2.6 Quarterly Industrial Sector Bulletin | Short quarterly update for members and partners. |
| P2 | 2.7 Special feasibility and market studies | Commissioned studies for members, investors and partners. |
| P3 | 3.1 Industrial Workforce Training Programme | Fourteen training areas; calendar; certification; partners. |
| P3 | 3.2 Enterprise Productivity, Quality and Safety Service | Technical advisory to enterprises: production planning, quality systems, safety, machinery, factory set-up, process improvement. |
| P3 | 3.3 Industrial Technology and Digitalisation Programme | Technology adoption, automation awareness, digital tools for industry. |
| P4 | 4.1 Market Linkages Programme | Digital product catalogue; supplier directory; buyer–seller matchmaking; linkages to wholesalers, retailers, contractors, supermarkets and distributors. |
| P4 | 4.2 Export Readiness Programme | Export diagnostics, standards and packaging, documentation, buyer introductions, trade-fair participation. |
| P4 | 4.3 Industrial Investment Promotion and Facilitation | Investment opportunity documentation; investor engagement; linkages to banks and financial service providers. |
| P5 | 5.1 Puntland Industries Expo (annual) | The flagship annual exhibition of Puntland’s industries. |
| P5 | 5.2 Puntland Industrial Awards | Annual recognition of industrial achievement, presented at the Expo. |
| P5 | 5.3 Industrial Promotion and Communications | Branding of Puntland-made products; media; the public website. |
| P6 | 6.1 Strategic Partnerships Programme | Partnership pipeline, agreements, MOU records, performance. |
| P6 | 6.2 Industrial Innovation and Entrepreneurship Programme | Support to SMEs and industrial start-ups; innovation showcases. |
| P6 | 6.3 Institutional Development, Resource Mobilisation and the HIIL Digital Platform | Secretariat development; financing strategy; the Platform; monitoring, evaluation and learning. |
Relationship with the Puntland Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture
Working assumption: Option B — Affiliated industrial platform. HIIL obtains its own legal personality and operates under a Memorandum of Understanding with the Chamber. The Chamber recognises HIIL as its affiliated industrial-sector platform, nominates one non-executive member of the HIIL Steering Committee, co-organises the Expo and the public–private dialogue, and provides its established channel for engaging government. HIIL retains its own governance, membership, finances, liabilities and data. The arrangement must be confirmed by a qualified legal practitioner before the MOU is signed.
| HIIL receives (under the MOU, if agreed) | HIIL does not receive |
|---|---|
| Recognition as the Chamber’s affiliated industrial platform | The Chamber’s legal personality or statutory powers |
| A Chamber nominee on the Steering Committee and a seat for HIIL in relevant Chamber forums | The Chamber’s assets, premises or funds, except as agreed in writing |
| Co-organisation of the Expo and the public–private dialogue | The Chamber’s membership or member data, except under an agreed data-sharing protocol |
| Use of the Chamber’s name and logo for joint activities, within agreed rules | Authority to represent the Chamber or speak on its behalf |
| Introductions to government, partners and the Chamber’s networks | Any power to issue Chamber certificates, licences or documents |
Implementation phases
| Phase | Timing | Milestones |
|---|---|---|
| Phase 1 — Institutional Foundation | Months 1 to 3 | Institutional review; legal and governance assessment; Chamber engagement; MOU negotiation and approval; membership policy adopted; initial industry mapping started; coordination mechanism (interim Steering Committee) established. |
| Phase 2 — Institutional Operationalisation | Months 4 to 6 | Secretariat established; membership registration launched; Platform version 1 live; sectoral committees constituted; first partnerships; initial industrial baseline prepared. |
| Phase 3 — Programme Implementation | Months 7 to 12 | Training programme begins; first research publications; market access activities launched; first Puntland Industries Expo (subject to feasibility and readiness); annual performance report. |
| Phase 4 — Institutional Expansion | Years 2 to 5 | Membership expanded across Puntland’s regions; international partnerships; research output increased; export-readiness support expanded; sustainable financing; annual improvement of the Expo and the Platform. |
The HIIL Digital Platform
The HIIL Industrial Consortium Management Platform is the digital headquarters of the Consortium: a secure, bilingual (English and Somali) web application serving industrial enterprises, Chamber representatives, HIIL administrators, researchers, investors, development partners and the public. It comprises fourteen modules and defines fourteen user roles. Version 1 covers registration, membership, directory and dashboard, publications and administration; later versions add the Expo portal, training, market access, partnerships and finance.