The Sierra Leone Minister of Communications and Technology, Haja Salimatu Bah has participated in the Forum of China-Africa Digital Cooperation held in Beijing, Capital of China. The Minister was accompanied by the Ambassador of Sierra Leone to China, H.E. Abu Bakarr Karim. During the occasion, Minister Bah did engage in several bilateral meetings aimed at enhancing digital cooperation and attracting technological investments for Sierra Leone.
One of the key meetings she held was with the Chinese Ministry of Industry and Technology. In that meeting, Minister Bah emphasized the importance of collaboration between her ministry and its counterpart in China. She proposed the facilitation of a closed-door tech expo during the upcoming Beijing Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC). Summit.
Minister Bah also urged the Chinese ministry of Industry and Technology to encourage other Chinese tech companies to invest in Sierra Leone following the success story of Huawei.
In its response, the Chinese Minister of Industry and Technology assured her of their continued support and commitment to fostering such investments.
In another separate but similar development, Minister Bah also met with the Director General Chinese Foreign Ministry in charge of the African Department, Mr. Du Xiaohui. She applauded the Chinese Government for hosting the forum and highlighted the advanced stage at which the Safe City and Rural Connectivity project proposals have reached. . Minister Bah requested for a follow up with the EXIM Bank of China once the documents of the project are presented. The Director General emphasized the importance of the Sierra Leone-China relationship and expressed optimism about the future of digital cooperation between the two countries.
In his contribution, Ambassador Karim expressed his gratitude and appreciation for the warm reception accorded to the Sierra Leone delegation. He informed the Chinese officials about the plans of his Embassy to host an Investment Forum in Zhengzhou City of Henan Province on the margins of FOCAC. The Forum the Ambassador went on, was aimed at attracting more Chinese investments to Sierra Leone.
Additionally, Minister Bah made another engagement with the Chairman of UCloud Technology known as Ji Xinhua on potential partnership and the Chairman expressed strong interest in the talks. She further visited Huawei’s office in Beijing and their headquarters in Shenzhen City thereby reinforcing the commitment to strengthening ties and exploring further opportunities for technological collaboration.
The participation of Minister Salimatu Bah in the China-Africa Digital Cooperation Forum marks a significant step in enhancing the digital landscape of Sierra Leone, a situation that will also foster closer ties with China in the technology sector.
