In what could be described as a significant, fruitful, and productive milestone in President Bio’s push for economic diplomacy to strengthen cooperation and deepen close ties of friendship, cooperation, and mutual solidarity, on April 11, 2024, Sierra Leone and Hungary officially signed an agreement for the establishment of a joint economic and technical commission, which will have a positive influence on the development of future bilateral cooperation between Hungary and Sierra Leone.
The delegation held different engagements, discussions, meetings, business forums, and sightseeing visits in Budapest and its environs.
The head of the delegation and the Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister, Hon. Musa Timothy Kabba, was exceptional as he demonstrated his astuteness and ingenuity in international relations and diplomacy, strong negotiation skills, and impressive leadership acumen. He was passionate about projecting the country’s positive and future prospective image with critical stakeholders, institutions, and the private sector for them to see the increasing need to invest and consider Sierra Leone a preferred investment destination given the country’s democratic credentials, huge business and investment opportunities, open economy, and stable political environment.
Following the arrival on April 8, 2024, and as part of the protocol and schedule of engagement with critical stakeholders and institutions, On the 9th, the delegation visited the ANY Security and Printing Company and the Ministry of Internal Affairs to get a first-hand understanding of the operations and institutions and explore possible discussions and partnerships.
The delegation further proceeded and held discussions with the officials of the Hungarian Water Partnership. The Hungarian Water Partnership is a non-profit professional organization supporting the development of transferable knowledge, products, solutions, and services in the Hungarian water business sector along with its entry into the international market. However, HWP has the core competencies of offering cost-efficient and affordable water solutions, providing partnerships, professional cooperation, and networks on an international level, and supporting the realization of solutions from planning to operation. HWP has a presence and operates in numerous countries, including Ghana, Rwanda, Kenya, Uganda, Laos, and Tanzania. They offer innovative solutions to water challenges worldwide.
Considering the security and printing challenges, the discussion was essentially to explore areas of interest for possible interventions and solutions in the security and printing industries.
Over the past years, Sierra Leone has faced serious problems with the rampant incidence of fake and forged documents and printing challenges.
It is my strong belief that such cooperation and partnership are imperative to promoting investment prospects and business opportunities that can be leveraged for mutual benefit and reciprocity.
It is important to note that Sierra Leone and Hungary have so much in common from the perspective of shared values, vision, development, and prosperity among their citizens.
On the need to boost the printing sector in Sierra Leone, the ANY Security Printing Company, PLC, has the technological and professional background to produce personalized and securitized documents, ensuring that security products have the highest levels of security and protection against counterfeiting. The discussion was for the company to offer security solutions to Sierra Leone’s perennial printing challenges.
Sierra Leone is in dire need of quality printing services, products, and securitises documents, which has left the country at high risk of fake and forged documents.
Senior government officials and sector experts from the Presidency and Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Finance, Trade, and Water Resources participated fully in the various engagements.
The inaugural session and experts meeting between the Hungarian-Sierra Leonean Joint Economic and Technical Commission experts was held on April 10, 2024, and the final signing ceremony was held on April 11, 2024, by H.E. Peter Szijjarto, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and H.E. Musa Timothy Kabba, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, in Budapest.
On April 10, 2024, the delegation had two engagements: the Foreign Minister held discussions with Hungarian parliamentarians at the House of Parliament, and the Hungarian-Sierra Leonean Business Forum was held at the HEPA Hungarian Export Promotion Agency.
Statements were made by Mr. Alpha Ibrahim Sesay, Minister of Trade and Industry; Mr. Gabor Jenei, Chief Executive Officer, HEPA Hungarian Export Promotion Agency; H.E. Mr. Peter Sztaray, State Secretary for Security Policy and Energy Security, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Hungary; and Dr. Edward Hinga Sandy, Executive Director, National Investment Board. There is a call for further engagement and interaction in the B2B meetings.
In his statement, Mr. Jihad N. Eter, Honorary Consul of Hungary in Sierra Leone, lauded the government of President Bio, led by his Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister, Hon. Musa Timothy Kabba, for demonstrating his astuteness and ingenuity in international relations and diplomacy, strong negotiation skills, and impressive leadership acumen.
The Honorary Consul of Hungary in Sierra Leone pointed out that he is so happy for the signing of the first joint economic and technical commission between the two countries. He pointed out that President Bio is passionate about projecting his country’s positive and future prospective image with critical stakeholders, institutions, and the private sector for them to see the increasing need to invest and consider Sierra Leone a preferred investment destination given the country’s democratic credentials, huge business and investment opportunities, open economy, and stable political environment.
He also praised the Sierra Leone delegation for a job well done and assured the government of President Bio about the government of Hungary’s continued support for the people of Sierra Leone.
However, yesterday, April 11, 2024, witnessed a very important moment for Sierra Leone following the signing of the cooperation framework and agreement in Budapest, Hungary 🇭🇺.
The good news is that the Joint Economic Commission, signed by both the Foreign Affairs Ministers of Hungary and Sierra Leone, confirmed the following support for Sierra Leone:
1). €50 million for the water supply project in Koidu and Lungi.
2). The quota of scholarships for Sierra Leonean students who meet the requirements to study in Hungary would be increased significantly.
3). Hungary to give visa waivers to Sierra Leoneans holding diplomatic passports
THE COMPOSITION OF THE DELEGATION
The Sierra Leone delegation consists of:
- Mr. Ibrahim Alpha Sesay, Minister of Trade and Industry
- Dr. Emmanuel Gaima, Presidential Adviser on Governance
- Mr. Alpha Kallon, Deputy Minister of Water Resources
- Dr. Edward Hinga Sandy, Executive Director, National Investment Board
- Mr. . Al-Hassan Kharamoh Kondeh, Senior Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Trade
- Dr. Dauda Kuyateh, Head of the Private Sector Unit, Ministry of Finance
- Mr. George Lamin VANDI, Director-General, Sierra Leone Water Company
- Dr. David Yambasu, Senior Special Assistant, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- Ms. Khadija Alpha, Acting Director, Europe, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- Mr. Yankuba Tarawally, Director, Projects, SALWACO.
- Mr. Razak Bah, Private Sector
- Dr. Helen Coker, medical practitioner and private sector
- Mr. Musa Kuyateh, National Revenue Authority
- Mr. Vaffe Bawoh, Private Sector
Key Discussion Points
On April 9, 2024, the delegation paid a sightseeing visit to ANY Security Printing Company. The delegation had an engagement with the management of the company following a short presentation by the CEO of the company, and the delegation later took on an inspection tour of the various sections of the facilities for the team to see how the company operates and functions as a world-class provider of quality and highly secure documents with guaranteed security features such as passports, visa stickers, revenue and excise duty stamps, university certificates and degrees, election papers, and identification.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
# To seek a partnership with our national printing press through deeper conversation to be facilitated by the Ministry of Information and Communications to engage with the experts and identify the needs and challenges.
# More slots for scholarships to students offering science, ICT, and water engineering
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is to set up a task force comprising experts to follow up on action points in the following
- economic, trade and investment, and commercial cooperation
- Cooperation in the Field of Water Management and Environment
- Cooperation in the Field of Technology Development, High-Tech, and Technology Transfer in the Joint Economic and Technical Commission.
