Aminaash Nyande Brima, Information Attaché, Sierra Leone Embassy, Rabat, Morocco
Under the leadership of President Julius Maada Bio and for the first time in the history of Sierra Leone, a 50-man delegation from Morocco is set to visit Sierra Leone in December to engage directly with local MDAs and business leaders to facilitate discussions and explore investment opportunities further.
This dislcosure was made during an Economic Promotion Week where a thirteen-man delegation from Sierra Leone representing various Ministries, Departments, and Agencies participated in the Economic Promotion Week organized by the Moroccan Agency for International Cooperation (AMCI).
The delegation was led by Mr. Tamba E. Juana, Deputy Director General (Policy) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.
The week-long event, which commenced on Monday, 28th October, ended on Friday, 1st November 2024 was held in Rabat, Casablanca, and Dakhla.
During the meetings, there was an emphasis on building lasting relationships between Moroccan and Sierra Leonean businesses. The interaction aims not only to attract investments but also to encourage knowledge transfer and capacity building within Sierra Leone.
The Sierra Leonean delegation engaged their Moroccan counterparts to further foster economic and diplomatic ties.
It could be recalled that the Sierra Leone Embassy in Rabat assembled a host of prominent Moroccan investors in Sierra Leone early this year, 2024 where they met with several MDAs, during which several investment and trade opportunities were deliberated on. The Moroccan investors assured their Sierra leonean counterparts of their fullest cooperation and commitment, which was demonstrated by the high-level investment promotion week organised by the Moroccan Agency for International Cooperation (AMCI).
At the Economic Promotion Week, the two friendly countries put together a Sierra Leone Morocco Investment Forum that includes the Sierra Leone Export and Import Produce Agency (SLEIPA) and several MDAs.
Significant progress was made by the Sierra Leonean delegation, bridging the gap with stakeholders to support, create, and boost investment opportunities in Sierra Leone.
The major outcome of the engagements includes; Morocco to organize a high level 50 man delegation to Sierra Leone which is CGEM African Forum for Investment, that would take place from the 4th to the 6th of December 2024 in Freetown. This will be a multisectoral meeting with different MDAs and business entities.
Also, the Moroccan African Chamber of Commerce would host the African Investment Forum and the African Executive Meeting in Rabat, aiming to consolidate the investment interests discussed and potentially include other African nations seeking similar collaboration.
The meeting was to explore potential investment opportunities in Sierra Leone and Morocco, particularly in sectors such as mining, agriculture, energy, tourism, security, infrastructural development, etc.
The Moroccans expressed interest in expanding their economic outreach into West Africa, particularly Sierra Leone, leveraging its rich mineral resources and favorable investment climate.
The meetings stand to compliment President Bio’s strides in transforming Sierra Leone in every facets, which has been his focus and based on the delibrations, light is sure to come within the shortest possible time, as Sierra Leone is now the apex of consideration.
