The fund in Abu Dhabi is owned by the government of Abu Dhabi with a focus on financing infrastructural projects and supporting developing countries to achieve sustainable socio-economic growth.

The Director-General said that he was honoured and delighted to meet President Bio and his delegation, saying that their institution had had a very good relationship with Sierra Leone where they had operated before. He said they were looking to partner with the government in infrastructural and other development priorities.

“We are ready to implement government priority programmes. With the vision and determination that we have seen from your government, we think that Sierra Leone is on the right footing and we will be more than happy to help your country,” he said.

On his part, President Bio thanked ADFB for its previous support to Sierra Leone. He said his government came into office at a very difficult time and inherited a very challenged economy, adding that with effective management, they had been able to establish stability in the economy. He disclosed that his government had placed priority on Human Capital Development as the basis for development with a focus on education, food security and health.

“We are a determined government and we have changed quite a lot in terms of the economy within this short time. We want genuine partners now who are ready to work with us in moving our country forward,” he said.

Also in the meeting were Sierra Leone’s Ambassador to the UAE, Rashid Sesay, Minister of Agriculture, Jonathan Joe Ndanema, Chairman of the Presidential Initiative on Infrastructure, Dr John Edward Tambi and the Director-General of the Petroleum Directorate, Timothy Kabba.