“We are out of Ebola for now and gradually returning to normalcy. We have put in place recovery plans that we are currently working on,” he told Madam Fleming, saying that the new policy direction of the Australian government vis-à-vis economic diplomacy, was highly welcoming.

The president recalled that before now, Sierra Leone had Australian companies involved in mining and called for such collaboration to be rekindled and extended by establishing vocational institutions where citizens can acquire innovative skills to develop themselves and the country. He thanked Madam Di Fleming for choosing to come to Sierra Leone at this time and expressed hope that in her next visit, she will come along with the former Prime Minister of Australia.

The founding President of Australia-Africa Chamber of Commerce, expressed excitement and admiration over the country’s development strides, despite the long civil war as well as the Ebola epidemic that ravaged the country for over a year. Madam Fleming emphasized the significance of collaboration especially now that the government of Australia is focusing on economic diplomacy. She said education was the key to every development and therefore will love to direct her effort in establishing educational institutions. She furthered that she was impressed with the development strides of the country and promised to bring in more Australians to invest in Sierra Leone.