The UK Foreign Secretary, James Cleverly, yesterday met and held fruitful discussions with His Excellency President Dr Julius Maada Bio in Freetown
James Cleverly has meanwhile signed a Memorandum of Understanding with his Sierra Leonean counterpart Prof. David Francis on Trade and Investment at the Foreign Affairs Ministry on Tower Hill in Freetown.
The MoU is to foster mutual understanding in advancing trade and investment between United Kingdom and Sierra Leone. Both countries have enjoyed stable and trusted bilateral relationship for a very long time and this MoU is geared towards strengthening that relationship.
Welcoming the UK delegation, Minister Francis thanked the Foreign Secretary for his visit not only as UK Foreign Secretary but also as a son of the soil. The Minister assured the delegation of President Bio’s continuous efforts in creating the enabling environment for businesses to thrive in Sierra Leone. He added that the UK has been a trusted partner in good and bad times. He described the UK as “all weathered friend”.
“President Bio is committed to ensure that, the time to register business in the country is cut from 6 weeks to 6 hoursโฆthis vision is what drives the National Investment Board that was created by His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio. This MOU will continue to strengthen the relationship and improve Sierra Leonean and UK businesses,โ said Minister Francis.
James Cleverly expressed his satisfaction in having such MOU between the two countries as that will enhance the joint-trade activities between the two countries. He emphasized on the importance of women participation in economic activities and also said, women empowerment is at the heart of UK’s foreign policy.
“In this MOU, not only Sierra Leone continues to benefit from duty free export to UK but also it will become much easier to sell goods to us made from products imported from another country. It provides great opportunities for Sierra Leonean businesses trading in textile and palm oil in particular”, James said.
The Foreign Secretary fondly spoke about his visit to Bo City where he visited the Government Hospital and commended the professional work that the medical practitioners are doing in saving lives especially in the area of infant mortality which is significantly reducing. He also visited the Islamic Secondary School in Bo where he was impressed with the pupils output and ambitions.
