AYV News, April 22, 2025
Sierra Leone’s Minister of Trade and Industry, Hon. Alpha Ibrahim Sesay, has concluded a successful official engagement in Geneva, Switzerland, following the completion of the country’s Third Trade Policy Review (TPR) at the World Trade Organization (WTO).
The review marks a significant milestone as Sierra Leone celebrates 30 years of WTO membership.
During the three-day review, Minister Sesay participated in a series of high-level bilateral meetings with global trade partners and senior officials aimed at strengthening collaboration and advancing Sierra Leone’s trade and development agenda.
Key engagements on the sidelines of the Review included:
•Meeting with WTO Director-General, Dr. NgoziOkonjo-Iweala: Discussions focused on enhancing WTO support for Sierra Leone in key areas including fisheries governance, trade financing, climate resilience, and market access.
•Engagement with WTO General Council Chair, Ambassador Almoqbel: The Minister explored strategies for navigating global economic challenges, with emphasis on trade facilitation, capacity building, and deeper multilateral cooperation.
•Meeting with ITC Executive Director, Pamela Coke-Hamilton: Talks centered on supporting SMEs through value addition, boosting intra-African trade, investment facilitation, and human capital development. The ITC reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Sierra Leone.
•Bilateral meeting with Turkish Ambassador, HakanÇakil: Discussions focused on enhancing cooperation in investment, with particular emphasis on the Feed Saloneinitiative, as well as infrastructure, energy, transport, and capacity building.
•Meeting with EU Ambassador H.E. Machado: Both sides explored strengthening EU–Sierra Leone trade and investment relations, with a focus on expanding market access and fostering new investment opportunities in Sierra Leone’s key development sectors.
At the opening session of the TPR, Ambassador Kah of The Gambia, who served as discussant, commended Sierra Leone’s reforms, including the implementation of ASYCUDA and active participation in regional trade liberalization. He also praised the country’s resilience in overcoming historical and ongoing economic challenges.
The review received wide acclaim from WTO member states, recognizing Sierra Leone’s notable progress in trade and economic policy reforms.
President Julius Maada Bio reaffirmed the government’s commitment to an inclusive, rules-based global trading system that promotes sustainable development for all.
The Head of the Permanent Mission of Sierra Leone to the United Nations and other International Organisations in Geneva, Ambassador Dr. Lansana Gberie, coordinated the review mechanism. He received special recognition from WTO Director-General Dr. Okonjo-Iweala for his strong representation and steadfast defense of Sierra Leone’s interests in WTO negotiations, agreements, and standard-setting discussions.
