Cairo, Egypt – 28 March 2024
The Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources Princess Dougba and the Deputy Minister of Defense of the Republic of Sierra Leone Rtd. Col. Brima Muana Massaquoi were received by Major General Waleed Hussin Abo Elmagd, General Manager of the National Service Project Organization (NSPO) on Thursday, 21 March 2024. The ministers, who were holding a reciprocal visit to Egypt, were accompanied by a delegation comprising Lieutenant Colonel Jakey Mohamed Kabba, Commanding office, Armed Forces Agricultural Unit, Sheku Sei, Head of Division, Artisanal Fisheries and Aquaculture, Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources and Bassem Mohamed, Managing Director, Sierra Fishing Company
The meeting addressed the ongoing development cooperation between the military cooperation committees of Republic of Sierra Leone Military and the Egyptian Military, especially in one key field of fishing, which began in September 2023, as well as other relevant matters to the bilateral cooperation, mutual interests, and exchange of experiences.
The main objective of the visit is to develop an acceptable model for that establishment of an integrated fish city that will include fish meal factory, extraction of fish oil and other related services.
The General Manager of NSPO, General Walid, Hussin Abo Elmagd, and his team comprising several heads of the group of companies managed by NSPO, gave approval and further expressed willingness to fortify the trade relationship and promised to strongly comply with the terms in the agreement in order to bring the agreement up to speed. On the previous day, the delegation met with the head of National Company for Aquaculture, General Islam Atteya and team to adequately discuss the critical issues in the agreement.
The head of the Sierra Leonean delegation, Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources, Princess Dugba, valued the agreement in the fields of Fisheries, underscoring the importance of coordinating visions and efforts in order to operationalize it full-time. She added that the strategic partnership shall contribute to the advancement of fish for food and fish for foreign direct investment which will directly impact the “Feed Salone program.”
For his part, the Sierra Leonean Deputy Defence Minister lauded the Egyptian role in the region, particularly in terms of the current crisis in the Gaza Strip, which has repercussions on international and regional security and stability. He continued that this strategic partnership between the two military shall upgrade trade and maximize the benefits and services available to both countries that can positively impact development. “It is the mandate of the Sierra Leone military to engage in developmental activities and we are keen to get involved in such a milestone achievement involving built on a public private partnership model resulting in greater participation and understanding among the three sides for the better of Egypt and Sierra Leone.” The Deputy Defence Minister said.
Bassem Mohamed, Managing Director, Sierra Fishing Company representing the private sector expressed appreciation for NESPO’s support in the development of fish farming and fish production in Sierra Leone. He said Sierra Fishing Companies is among the oldest fishing companies providing fish for Sierra Leoneans and is keen on supporting the government of Sierra Leone in achieving its goals.
The agreement will be sealed between the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources, the National Company for Fisheries and Aquaculture, in solidarity with the private sector in Sierra Leone and Egypt.
Sierra Leonean Ambassador to Cairo, the Arab Republic of Egypt, His Excellency Sadiq Silla, and his team, who are facilitating the cooperation, said the Embassy is playing an essential role in this cooperation because it is a step in the right direction. “It is with deep conviction that I see the success of this collaboration.” said Ambassador Silla. Several heads of NSPO companies also attended the ceremony.
