The Sierra Leone delegation from the Seventh Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) headed by H.E the President, Retired Brigadier Julius Maada Bio, returned home with mesmerizing success.
The Government of Japan has been leading the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) since 1993, co-hosted by United Nations, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), World Bank and African Union Commission (AUC). This year’s conference was held from the 28th – 30th August, 2019 at Pacifico Yokohama, Yokohama City, Japan.
Sierra Leone delegation, according to CEO Koroma, exerted much influence as President Bio’s heart giving speech knocked dead host of participants including CEOs of multilateral companies around the world; adding that the First Lady Mrs. Fatima Jabbie Bio, was also very much supportive with her enthusiastic speeches and engagements with other First Ladies all gearing towards creating the good image of the Country.
Mr. Koroma further noted that, his presentation on the enabling investment climate and the competitive investment advantage of Sierra Leone with reference to the President’s speech, magnetized a considerable number of potential investors to the Sierra Leone booth where he had successful engagements with them.
Trusting the leadership of the New Direction Government, led by President Bio, companies investing in agriculture, energy, water pump machine, infrastructure, fish processing have hunched on undertaking investment mission in Sierra Leone. As agreed upon with the SLIEPA CEO, some of them will be visiting Sierra Leone in October and November this year.
Among other lessons learned from the Japanese, according to Mr. Koroma, were discipline, honesty, respect for authority and not being wasteful to state resources which have contributed significantly to their development. Upon his return, he shared these virtues with his staff at SLIEPA and he admonished all compatriots to embrace such for a transformative Sierra Leone.