Sierra Leone’s Minister of Transport and Aviation, Fanday Turay, was received on Monday 6 November 2023 by Egyptian Minister of Transport Kemel El Wazi, at the Egypt International Exhibition Centre, Cairo, to discuss a framework agreement on several important issues of mutual benefit.
Minister Fanday acknowledged the strides made so far by Egypt in ameliorating the suffering of the masses in the transport sector while putting the Sierra Leone case forward. He underscores the Egypt – Sierra Leone relationship which spans back to the sixties. He applauded Ambassador Silla’s facilitating capacity and affirmed that his visit demonstrates a strong political will in support of the moves. “Sierra Leone has lots of opportunities in the transport sector and is looking for a public-private partnership to cover that gap.
The flash points of the discussion included signing a comprehensive framework that will allow Egyptian investment in the management and operation of Bus Transportation in Sierra Leone, investment in the Blue Economy in the Maritime Sector, and building a Marine Academy. and the development and extension of terminals for ships in the sea port.
Executive Director of Sierra Leone Maritime Administration, Paul S Massaquoi, said Sierra Leone is intensifying its bilateral relations with Egypt because he believes Egypt will support the Sierra Leonean course, and leveraging on their expertise, will bring a realistic boost to the Maritime sector. He mentioned the previous visits and inspection of the Ports of Alexandria and the Marine Academy. He averred that Sierra Leone is domesticating most of the international treaties signed before which creates vast potentials in the sector for investment. He furthered that Sierra Leone operates an open vessel registration which give rights to close to 500 ships flying the flag but with less benefit to the country. Similarly, Sierra Leone’s blue economy is enormous and untapped, “Any investment in that sector can be given full support” Massaquoi said.
Judith Koseh, Deputy Director General of Sierra Leone Ports Authority (SLPA), lauded Egyptian support and pushed forward the idea of transshipment and investing in the expansion of the Queen Elizabeth Quay as well as having dry ports.
Minister Wazir immediately demonstrated preparedness to cooperate and issue directives to companies to make special diesel engine buses for Sierra Leone with maintenance and training packages attached. The minister also conveyed Egypt’s interest in investing in wood as his country imports all the wood it uses. Ambassador Sadiq Silla will collaborate with his ministry on the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that will pave the way for the implementation of a grand cooperation agreement between the Ministry of Transport of Egypt and the Ministry of Transport in Sierra Leone.
The two sides confirmed that the meeting was fruitful and promised to work together on concrete ways of reaching a milestone achievement.
Minister Fanday’s delegation was taken on a guided tour of some new buses manufactured by Egyptian Companies and displayed at the Egypt International Exhibition Center to Sierra Leone using the 5th and 7th Freedoms of the Air.
Other notable personalities in attendance included: Ambassador Sadiq Silla, and team, Paul S Massaquoi, Executive Director, Sierra Leone Maritime Administration, Judith Kosseh, Deputy Director General, Sierra Leone Ports Authority, Ms. Amany Metwaly, Permanent Secretary Undersecretary of the Egyptian Ministry of Civil Aviation, Pilot Amr El Sharkawy, Chairman, Egyptian Civil Aviation Authority, Pilot Mohamed Alyan, Assistant Chairman of the Holding Company for Egypt Air, Pilot Jasser Hussein, CEO Directors of Egypt Air Cargo Company, General Mamdouh Ghonein, Asst. CEO of Directors of Egypt Air Cargo Company, Ms. Lamia Sami, DG. of Int. Relations, Egyptian Ministry of Civil Aviation and Mr. Tamer Al Masery, GM of Networks, Egypt Airlines.
