The MoU which was signed at the Seventh Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 7) in Japan covers cooperation in the provision of technical and vocational training and job opportunities for youths in Sierra Leone.
Head of the IOM Office in Sierra Leone, Alhaji Sanusi Tejan Savage said: “I am happy to sign this agreement to provide mutual support in the effective implementation of our youth empowerment project”.
However, Public Private Partnership (PPP) is important to maintain/manage ITOCHU’s investment long term contribution to the local community where they operate.
The representative for Sierra Tropical Limited/ ITOCHU Corporation during the Signing Ceremony expressed his institution’s commitment to partner with IOM to provide the required job opportunities for Youths who will go through IOM’s technical vocational training.
In attendance at the signing event were two senior staff from the IOM’s Headquarter in Geneva, Mr Hassan Abdel Moneim Mostafa Senior Regional Advisor for the Middle East and North Africa and Haja Aissata Kane, Senior Regional Advisor for Sub Saharan Africa respectively. Also, present were Ms. Mio Sato. Chief of Mission IOM Japan. Mr.Kunikazu Akao, Project Manager IOM Sierra Leone, and the ITOCHU President & colleagues including Mr. Yoshihisa Q.Suzuki, Mr.Patrick Blake, Vice President of Dole and General Manager of Sierra Tropical Limited and a host of other ITOCHU Directors.
Moreover, in April this year, IOM launched a Project title “Reducing the Risk of Irregular Migration through Promotion of Youth Employment and Entrepreneurship in Sierra Leone”. The new project which is funded by the Government of Japan will contribute to youth and women’s empowerment through vocational and entrepreneurship skills training. The signing of MoU is the starting of a partnership with Sierra Tropical to provide internships and on-the-job training to young people and women in Sierra Leone.
A presentation on the significance of IOM’s PPP approach with Japanese Private Companies will be delivered at the official TICAD 7 Side event on the 29th August, 2019.
