Business Investments in Awdal Region

Rays Hotel; a Model Example

By Ahmed Abib Hayir

Awdal; my home region is inclusively one of those other Somali parts effected by many of the same forces that have shaped the history of our country. For one thing, Somaliland, my country fell in the hands of the former regime of Mohamed Siyad Bare. The leaders of this regime, without sacrifice or risk on their part, corrupted the country’s resources, divided their people into hostile clan groupings, and against the law though took bribes for mismanagement. It was like they tied stones on their wings now that people turned against them. Clan-based armed forces declared war on the regime.

This created internal unrest and accelerated the state decay and political disintegration. Unfortunately, the resulting violent downfall of the regime, contrary to expectations, did not bring the social and political upheaval to an end. Due to the easy availability of huge supplies of arms and ammunitions from the arsenals of the toppled regime or through the borders of the neighboring countries, the situation was even further escalated. Armed conflicts plunged the country into prolonged and cruel civil wars. Hostile clan-based militiamen used their weapons of all kinds indiscriminately against one another at the expense of their people. Hundreds of thousands were threatened by the combined effects of wars and droughts and the country as a whole remained victim under the hands of its own people

In other ward, the collapse of the centralized institutions ever deepened the economic and social standing affecting the Somali people. The country’s economy has long been mainly based on the herding of camels, cattle, goats, and sheep which are the major exports to the other world. The undeniable fact was that the armed conflicts, devastating droughts, and famine, more or less unnoticed by the outside world, caused a huge influx of the country people into towns and cities. The urban migration, in turn, deprived the Somali livestock of any care in rural areas where these animals are reared. This urban migration also prompted deforestation and soil degradation. People indiscriminately cut trees for energy, regardless of their knowledge of plants’ role for livestock rearing and the environment as a whole. This also denied these economic animals of their food; the plants. In this way hundreds of thousands of the Somali livestock were lost bringing about economic set back. The other, more or less economic contributors, like fishing, crop production and mineral deposits even, owing to the national upheavals remained of no importance as sources of income generation. However, people were still prisoners of their freezing economy. There have long been no jobs to do. The unemployment rate has been steadily getting higher. People were always about the street corners or sipping traditional tea from local teashops. As sensible reader you can then imagine the distress and the inconsolable sadness of the unemployment will therefore contribute higher crime rates. There have always been a vast number of criminal records. For instance properties were looted, women were raped and others were deliberately murdered

Here in my region, Awdal, despite these hardships people are considerably dependant on money sent home through remittance for their income. These people; the families, the relatives and the friends sending money to their brothers, sisters, and kins are doing jobs in the alien countries they are based. It’s for sure true then, that Awdal Diasporas are limited in number; each one of us has not got a brother or a sister abroad. The money transfer is unevenly acquired. The income distribution is therefore narrow. Certain people do only have the right to make use of their foreign-based financial supporters. Because of this income disparity, some believe that the social classes emerging and the resulting standard of living may not underpin any hope of success for the future of private businesses. They strongly believe that only certain people will have the purchasing power. On this basis, many would-be entrepreneurs maintain the strong will to hold back their hard-won wealth; they do not want to start businesses. These people are under the illusion that nothing returns from their investments. And so long as this fear weighs down their heads, investments, whatever, is to be avoided at all costs. If, however, favorable conditions call their attentions to finance their assets, the pulling and pushing between their mental attitudes put them off balance. This reluctance brings about doubt, whatever that confines themselves to an assertion of probability, the fear of losing dominates their minds and finally they give up and remain in a state of indifference however profitable the existing opportunities are. I say many people in my region, though wealthy are always scared to end up in the streets begging. This is how far I judge but you can also add fuel to the fire of criticism. Were they a little bit sensible and made investments, jobs would be created for the numberless unemployed people and the investors themselves would get richer. In this way the society would be well off

In the light of this condition, Idiris Muhumed Sacad (ina cunaye), the most prominent business man in Awdal region does not lack the courage to release his assets from the binding chains of wasteful doubts about of investments . What pronounces a feeling of special satisfaction for him is that, even if any, every failure is necessary to achieve latter successes. And to bridge the gap Idiris (ina cunaye), given the opportunity to prove his potential starts a number of private businesses in the region. Rays Hotel is the first modern hotel ever built in my hometown, Borame. This modern hotel which belongs to Idiris Cunaye has taken the reputation of our town to rarified height.

I remember we were still in summer last June and the rain came almost everyday. On lovely Sunday afternoon, the whole world seemed beautiful. We had enjoyed a comfortable shower at noon that day, and now in the afternoon the sun shone brightly glaring down from a clear sky. Down in the north, the farmland stretching to the eastern grassy hill sides were laden with green leaved corn crops whose seeds had just taken roots. Far behind the farms, clumps of green trees were lining in front of the high mountains towering over the plains below. On the near side, the foreground of the farms was green leveled and grassed over. Young people were hanging about and walking across the open grass land. In the immediate neighboring area from the grass, the football stadium was occupied by two teams playing an afternoon match. Their relative fans chanting supportive slogans and other spectators also crowded the stadium. And the Rays Hotel tall building was standing against the sun. This view cast a dreamlike aura of how beautiful my town is certain to be while I was on my way to Rays Hotel.

I finally ended up in front of the hotel gate. This time the sky was already aflame with the sunset. A flock of birds were flying over this same part of the hotel tall building that I could had already seen all the way back home. Rain would-be clouds were just forming the sky over this building. The iron gates of the hotel stone-built fence are open to a way that cuts across the eastern part of the hotel’s main building. On the either side of the way, several buildings are standing in line. These buildings facing west and opposite the hotel gates are the laundry and the power station where the engine is roaring. Some other rooms whose role I don’t understand are also standing in this area. I see cars lining up there. On my entry of the front gate of the hotel main building there in my right is the hotel manager’s office. The next door attached to the right of this office is the internet café where I see, through its glass-paned window a man with an awkward posture whose eyes are fixed on a computer screen in front of him. Further right the internet café is lined by a platform with an open front and roof that extends in a short distance. This is the Verandah. In this verandah people occupied the chairs having drinks and some of them have dishes on tables in front of them. Some are entertained by TV program going on while others are making healthy conversations. Few steps in front of the verandah there lay a square body of land with mowed green lawn. A fountain pumps out jets of water in the air and a model mountain with heavy black stone on it also occupies the area. The hotel main building; a modernly designed three floors is just behind the fountain area. On the left side of the hotel main buildings’ gate, there is the restaurant part. A long this left side, small green roofed huts are also standing. The hotel has got a conference hall, stores and mosques behind the main building in addition

The newly opened northern side is a wide green area that many kinds of plants and flowers are growing. Some domesticated animals are cared. It also comprises the parking area, the kitchens and some other sleeping rooms. Some people are also having drinks on the plastic chairs and tables placed in the well grown plants and flower.

The hotel provides a wide range of services for both local people and foreign guests. It has got luxurious sleeping rooms and delicious dishes and drinks. In addition to this, internet and laundry services are also available

The hotel is staffed mainly by university graduates. Hassan Hussien the current hotel manager directs his power and leadership to the well-disciplined staff the run the day-by –day activities of the hotel. The hotel customers also satisfied with the services they are provided at the entire hotel. Rays has so far earned reputation for its sound management.

In conclusion Rays Hotel is not only an asset to our town reputation; it is also an example for the success of any other investments made here in Awdal Region

The pen of Ahmed Abib Hayir

Amoud University Student

The faculty of Business and Public Administration

Senior student

E-mail: hayir89@hotmail.com

Tele: 4409647 or 615138

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