A high-powered Egyptian military delegation has arrived in Freetown on Sunday, 21 January 2024. It includes Major General Walid Abul Magd, Director General of the National Service Projects Organization (NSPO), Major General Islam Attia Abdel Hamid Rayan, Chairman of boards of directors & CEO of National company for fisheries & Aquaculture, Major General Mohamed Abd El Rahman El Meniawy, Assistant General Manager (AGM) for Digital Information (NSPO), Pensioner Brigadier Amir Ahmed Youssef Khattab, Director of Public Relations Director (NSPO). The visit was triggered by the expose of meetings held between the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Sierra Leone and the Ministry of Defense of the Arab Republic of Egypt which ended in the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in November 2023, in different areas of investment. The team from Cairo will conduct visits to specified ministries and operational areas in other parts of Sierra Leone.
According to Ambassador Sadiq Silla, the visit of the Egyptian delegation to Sierra Leone comes within the framework of enhancing joint economic cooperation between the two sides, and the team has been scheduled to have sessions with, Ministry of Fisheries, Minister of Agriculture, Ministry of Defense, and Ministry of Agriculture. There will be a golden opportunity to converse proposed bilateral projects between delegations from both sides.
This visit, according to General Walid Abdul Magd, DG of NSPO, head of Egyptian Delegation, is the first trip to Sierra Leone as Egypt seeks to strengthen partnerships, a solidarity cemented during the signing of the MOU in Cairo, new found military production solidarity between Egypt and Sierra Leone. He furthered that it is the vision of the Egyptian presidency Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi to expand Egyptian investment in Africa, particularly in agriculture, logistics, and related industries. He emphasized the role of the Egyptian private sector in leading the cooperation projects with the continent. The Egyptian president also instructed the government to devise and implement suitable mechanisms to mitigate investment risks and assist investors, aiming to benefit both Egypt and its African partners.
“The visit is concentrated on Sierra Leone’s efforts to support the “Feed Salone” and enhance agricultural cooperation with Sister African states, in accordance with the plan of action to embrace regional integration, increase the continent’s economic stability, and utilize continental resources to achieve self-reliance and food security. It also creates relevant alternative multilateral trade partnership that will boost trade and investment.” said Dr. Dick.
The accompanying Sierra Leonean Delegation comprise Ambassador Sadiq Silla, Sierra Leone’s representative to the Arab Republic of Egypt, Major General Christian Fahim Marrah and team, Ministry of Defense, Deputy Minister, Hon. Haja Isata Abdulai-Kamara and team, Ministry of Fisheries, and Deputy Minister, Dr. Theresa Dick, Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security.
The tour is expected to conclude on 25 January, 2024.
