President Dr. Julius Maada Bio and the Honorary Consul of Hungary to Sierra Leone, MR. Jihad N. Eter has received participants of the Budapest-Bamako Rally in Freetown, dubbed the world’s largest amateur vehicular rally, and a 19-day event that saw 600 participants with 250 vehicles and 350 motorbikes taking part.
“Today, I am here at the finish line with great pride in our peaceful capital city, Freetown, to congratulate participants of the Budapest-Bamako Rally, a true test of resilience and human limits, physical and mental strength. More importantly, it unites people. My message to you is that Sierra Leone is open for business,” he said.
The President also assured his guests that the Government of Sierra Leone would continue to promote initiatives that would showcase the country’s rich tourism potential as well as its programmes geared toward rebranding the country.
He noted that their presence in the country, for the second time in two years, was a testimony to the fact that Sierra Leone had graduated from those gloomy pictures painted by some people, informing them that the latest Global Peace Index had rated Sierra Leone as the most peaceful country in West Africa and the third most peaceful in sub-Saharan Africa.
“Apart from being the most peaceful country in West Africa, Sierra Leone possesses tremendous tourism potential in terms of pristine natural areas, beautiful landscapes, white sandy beaches, exotic islands, historic rivers, lakes and mountains,” he said.
The President went on to state that their visit might have been limited to just a few places, and, therefore, encouraged them to explore the vast heritage and ecotourism sites across the country to benefit from the diverse culture and warm hospitality that cut across tribal and regional boundaries.
“My government has embarked on the development of tourism sites under the Sierra Leone Economic Diversification Project, with support from the World Bank, to develop six project communities. Also, under the enhanced integrated framework project, we are rehabilitating the Milton Margai Technical University’s hotel and tourism training college at Brookfields,” he said.
Welcome the participants, the Honorary Consul of Hungary to Sierra Leone, MR. Jihad N. Eter thanked His Excellency the president and the Hon. Vice President of the Republic of Sierra Leone, for graciously consenting amidst their very busy schedule to witness the ceremony.
“Let me state that this has clearly demonstrated the love, willingness, and commitment of both His Excellency the president and the Hon. vice president to rebrand the image of our beloved country Sierra Leone at every given opportunity, all in the spirit of patriotism and nationalism” he said.
The Honorary Consul of Hungary to Sierra Leone lauded all participants in this year’s Budapest Bamako Rally and extended a special welcome to all of them for making this trip successful.
“Thanks for your hard work and dedication to make this rally a success. I hope you would enjoy the serenity of our beautiful beaches, Islands, parks and other places in our beloved Sierra Leone. We are hopeful that this rally inspires ideas, discussions, willingness and commitment to strengthening the bilateral relations between the two countries. Let me say to you all that you are heartily welcome to visit Sierra Leone with your families, friends, and loved ones so that you can tell the rest of the world about the beauty of Sierra Leone and the excellent hospitality you experienced. Special thanks going to the Sierra Leone police for their relentless efforts and selfless service to provide security for us”, he told all the participants.
Director of Tourism in the Ministry of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, Mohammed Jalloh, described the event as fantastic, while also noting that the country had played host to this year’s 600 participants, who took part in the Budapest-Bamako Rally.
He said Sierra Leone was very proud to have received them for the second time, saying that that was a show of confidence in Sierra Leone as a peaceful and accommodating place.
Chief Executive Officer of the Budapest-Bamako Rally, Andrew Szabo, said the rally did not happen last year due to the Covid pandemic but noted that they were fortunate to do so this year and to have finished in Sierra Leone.
He disclosed that since the rally started 17 years ago, they had never received a fantastic welcome as the one they got in Sierra Leone and thanked the President and his people for the warm reception.
“I want to encourage the government to preserve the beaches and the forests and to happily share them with the world,” he concluded.
The Budapest-Bamako is about community. It’s about meeting new people. It’s about finding a helping hand when you need help. It’s about sharing meals, drinks and stories at the end of each day. It’s about sitting together by the fire each night. It’s about visiting local villages in Africa bringing gifts and learning about each other. It is about destroying stereotypes. It is also about having a good time and meeting like-minded people.
SPEECH BY THE HONORARY CONSUL OF HUNGARY TO SIERRA LEONE, MR. JIHAD N. ETER AT THE BUDAPEST BAMAKO RALLY IN FREETOWN-NOVEMBER 2022.
” Your Excellency the President of the Republic of Sierra Leone, (Rtd.) Brigadier Dr. Julius Maada Bio,
” The Hon. Vice President, Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh,
” Hon. Ministers of Government,
” The Hon. Minister of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, Dr. Memunatu Pratt,
” The Dean and members of the Diplomatic and Consular Corps,
” Distinguished participants, Ladies and gentlemen.
It is with great delight and immense pleasure I stand before you today on existing protocols to address this profoundly honored event at this climactic stage of the Budapest Bamako Rally in Freetown.
I would like to use this golden opportunity to thank His Excellency the president, and the Hon. Vice President of the Republic of Sierra Leone, for graciously consenting amidst their very busy schedule to be here with us today. Let me state that this has clearly demonstrated the love, willingness and commitment of both His Excellency the president and the Hon. vice president to rebrand the image of our beloved country Sierra Leone at every given opportunity, all in the spirit of patriotism and nationalism.
Let me also register my great respect and admiration for our hardworking Minister of Tourism and Cultural affairs, Dr. Memunatu Pratt, whose contribution in our tourism sector has been excellent since she assumed that office. Madam Minister, your vision for Sierra Leone to be the hub of tourism and one of the best touristic destinations in the world is extremely encouraging. With all the negative global challenges like Covid-19 Pandemic, the war in Ukraine and the rising economic hardship which have hampered the smooth visits of so many tourists all over the world, you still manage to convince many to come and visit our beautiful touristic sites in Sierra Leone. The tourists are always impressed with our beautiful country and touristic sites, citing our comfortable weather condition and unique natural landscapes.
Your Excellency, since 2018 when I assumed the office of the Honorary Consul of Hungary to Sierra Leone, my office has been working very hard to further strengthen the already existing friendly relations between the Republic of Sierra Leone and Hungary. Let me continue to assure His Excellency the president, the Hon. vice president and the people of Sierra Leone that my office would ensure that it maintains the bilateral relations between the two countries.
Your Excellency, I am delighted to emphasize on the fifty (50) scholarships the government of Hungary is giving out every year to Sierra Leonean Students to study in Hungary in various fields of study, through the Ministry of Technical and Higher Education, as a way of supporting His Excellency the president’s flagship program of Free and Quality Education. However, forty-four (44) Sierra Leonean students were successful in this year’s application to study in Hungary. I am delighted to let you all know that Sierra Leonean students will continue to benefit from scholarships to study in Hungary as a way of enhancing His Excellency the president’s human capital development stride. Knowledge is Power.
Also, my office recently participated in the just concluded event of West Africa Agribusiness, Development of Trade and Economic Relation among West African Countries, which was organized by the Hungarian Chamber of Agriculture, the Embassy of Hungary in Accra and the Ghanaian-Hungarian Business Council. That event gave the opportunity to West African countries especially Sierra Leone to share their experiences, views on the state of play in agribusiness and on future cooperation opportunities. In that event, I informed strategic stakeholders, agriculturists and diplomats how blessed Sierra Leone is with vast land and fertile soil suitable for agriculture. Sierra Leone is blessed with rivers for irrigation purposes to help boost farms productivity especially with the growing effects of climate change. My office encouraged Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) with globalized networks, with extending international policies and international working partners to come onboard to partner with strategic stakeholders in the agribusiness industry to ensure agribusiness enterprises thrive in Sierra Leone.
Your Excellency, the numerous achievements of His Excellency the president, Dr. Julius Maada Bio marching with his motto “tok and do” and having provided the people of Kono with electricity, roads and the recent Kono University of Technology, the people are very much delighted for the water project in their diamond-rich district of Kono which you reliably promised them that upon your second term in office you will ensure that they have quality, safe and pure drinking water. I wish to let them know that through His Excellency’s commitment and his hard working Hon. Minister of Water Resources, Philip K. Lansana in collaboration with their Hungarian counterpart through the Hungarian-Exim Bank have put everything in place for the commencement of the said project.
Your Excellency, it is also important to note that the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Hungary, His Excellency, Peter Szijjarto is making preparation to visit Sierra Leone.
To all participants in this year’s Budapest Bamako Rally, I would like to extend a special welcome to you all. It is so wonderful to see you all here on this special event. Thanks for your hard work and dedication to make this rally a success. I hope you would enjoy the serenity of our beautiful beaches, Islands, parks and other places in our beloved Sierra Leone. We are hopeful that this rally inspires ideas, discussions, willingness and commitment to strengthen the bilateral relations between the two countries. Let me say to you all that you are heartily welcome to visit Sierra Leone with your families, friends, and loved ones so that you can tell the rest of the world about the beauty of Sierra Leone and the excellent hospitality you experienced. Special thanks going to the Sierra Leone police for their relentless efforts and selfless service to provide security for us.
I Thank you all and God bless you.
