AYV News, July 16, 2025
Hon. Chernor Bah, Sierra Leone’s Minister of Information and Civic Education, has led the signing of a landmark $5 million agreement with China’s Diming Yimo Printing Company to modernise the country’s Government Printing Press—transforming it into a digitally driven, revenue-generating hub for national and regional printing services.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), signed during an official visit to Beijing, represents a major leap forward in Sierra Leone’s efforts to upgrade public infrastructure and professionalise state printing services. Under the agreement, Diming Yimo will provide cutting-edge equipment, dispatch technical experts to train local staff, and help establish a dedicated national printing training institute to build long-term capacity.
Chairman of Diming Yimo, Mr. Qing Shuang Meng, announced that the project will become operational within three months. He highlighted the company’s ambition to turn Sierra Leone into a regional benchmark for modern, high-quality print production.
“This is not just another printing facility,” said Mr. Meng. “We are building a regional hub that will set new standards for print production across West Africa.”
Minister Bah described the partnership as a strategic milestone in delivering President Julius Maada Bio’s vision for digital transformation and industrial growth.
“This ground-breaking deal will help us bring Sierra Leone’s printing industry into the 21st century,” Minister Bah said. “It’s about transitioning a critical sector into the digital age, meeting local needs, increasing government revenue, and building sustainable local expertise.”
Minister Bah was accompanied by Sierra Leone’s Ambassador to China, Dr. Abu Bakarr Karim, along with the Government Printer, Mr. Salifu Suma, and the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Information and Civic Education, Mr. Andrew Kamara.
The delegation toured Diming Yimo’s printing facility in Beijing, where Minister Bah noted: “Seeing their operations first-hand has strengthened our confidence in the potential of this partnership to deliver real, lasting change for our country.”
Following the signing, the Sierra Leonean delegation visited the Beijing Institute of Graphics and Communication (BIGC), where Minister Bah proposed a partnership involving BIGC, the Government of Sierra Leone, and local universities. The institute welcomed the proposal, opening the door to future collaboration in education and technical training.
This strategic alliance positions Sierra Leone to modernise its printing infrastructure, create skilled jobs, boost domestic production, and become a regional leader in printing and publishing technology.
