By Kadijatu Bangura, Daily Scope Reporter
At a ceremonial event, Sierra Leone’s Vice President, Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh, expressed gratitude to the Chinese government for reinforcing the longstanding relationship between Sierra Leone and China with a US$55 million investment in the construction of a modern fish harbour.
Dr. Jalloh emphasized that this project will assist Sierra Leone in fulfilling international obligations, particularly the establishment of a fishing port in accordance with the FAO Port States Measures. He outlined the economic advantages of the initiative, noting that it will create opportunities to harness wealth from the fisheries sector through improved monitoring and enforcement of quota management systems, as well as enhanced port-based services.
Describing the program as a pivotal milestone in Sierra Leone’s history, the Vice President named the harbour the Julius Maada Bio Industrial Fishing Port, honoring President Bio for his significant contributions to transforming the fisheries sector. He urged the private sector to invest more in this industry to maximize its potential.
Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources, Princess Dugba, thanked the Chinese government for their generosity. She highlighted the government’s commitment to meeting prerequisites for the project, including acquiring 252 acres of land for the harbour and compensating landowners.
The project will feature essential infrastructure, including a breakwater system, slipway, fish market, and ministry offices, while also creating opportunities for private sector investment. Minister Dugba expressed her satisfaction over the arrival of Chinese engineers and contractors, who are collaborating with local firms to ensure that basic amenities such as energy and water are ready before construction begins. She acknowledged the sector’s vast potential to support the Feed Salone Agenda and called for increased assistance.
Chinese Vice Premier Han Zheng attended the ceremony, extending warm congratulations to Sierra Leone and underscoring the decades-long cooperation between the two countries in various fields, including fisheries, agriculture, and education. He noted that the project received approval from Chinese President Xi Jinping following the Beijing Africa-China Summit, which included a framework for an economic partnership agreement focused on fisheries cooperation.
Mr. Zheng assured attendees that the fish harbour project would bolster mutual trust and enhance the existing rapport between the two nations while promoting the development of the fisheries sector. He pledged China’s ongoing commitment to Sierra Leone’s development.
Brima Kebbie, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Fisheries and the event’s chair, thanked China for its support and characterized the ceremony as a historic moment symbolizing the strategic partnership between Sierra Leone and China.
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