The Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Hon. Dr. Alie Kabba and Japan Ambassador, His Excellency Tustonu Himeno, Tuesday, 26^th February, 2019 signed the exchange of notes on Food Aid Programme between the Government of Sierra Leone and the Government of Japan.

Speaking at the signing ceremony which was held at the Minister’s Conference Room on the 5^th Floor of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, the Japanese Ambassador to Sierra Leone His Excellency, Tustonu Himeno said the signing of notes for the Food Aid Programme was appropriate as it would contribute to the ‘New Direction’s’ Flagship programme, (Free Quality Education) through their support to the school feeding programme.

He said, Japan has always been there to support Sierra Leone and that they will continue to support the country on the basis of the ‘New Direction” Government policies including the major flagships programmes of education, health, agriculture and infrastructure.

He said Sierra Leone and Japan are friends and that the two countries have been working together in a number of development programmes with JICA serving as the main vehicle for Japan’s development assistance to Sierra Leone.

His Excellency Tustonu Himeno recalled that, during the visit of the Minister of Foreign Affairs at the TICAD summit last year, Minister Kabba engaged his Japan counterpart and other government officials in the area of promoting more development programs in Sierra Leone.

This year’s TICAD Conference he said, would be very important as it will bring the two Presidents, their governments and people closer than before.

He assured that Japan will continue to support Sierra Leone in her development strides.

The Hon. Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Dr. Alie Kabba in his response, on behalf of His Excellency President Dr. Julius Maada Bio, expressed deep appreciation for the historic ties the two countries have established since independence; noting the dept of bilateral relationships they have maintained.

He said the signing ceremony was a testament to that long history of engagement and that he was pleased to hear that JICA is looking at expanding its geographical operations.

He told the Ambassador that, under the ‘New Direction’, His Excellency, Brigadier Julius Maada Bio always emphasized on the need for his government officials to focus on an inclusive governance and development, which according to him means that, every part of the country should benefit from the ‘New Direction’s’ National Development plans.

Dr. Kabba said that, as a government, they appreciated the specific focus of Japan on the ‘New Direction’s’ major flagship programmes.

He said the government’s focus on the Free Quality Education was to ensure that they address not only the needs in the classrooms but to make sure that no child goes to school hungry and that all children should have access to the Free Quality Education.

Minister Kabba said Japan’s Government emphasis in supporting the Free Quality Education speaks volume to their commitment to the ‘New Direction’s’ National Development Plan that they are rolling out.

He further expressed appreciations to the Government of Japan for their focus on the country’s Agricultural sector, which is one of the pillars of the ‘New Direction’ National Development Plan.

He said their aim in promoting agriculture in the country is to achieve national food security. This he maintained was a goal set by His Excellency Dr. Julius Maada Bio.

Minister kabba went on to state that he was confident that, they can count on Japan’s expertise to ensure that the country grows its own and invest in large scale agriculture in order to maximize the productivity of the country’s agricultural land.

He said this was in line with the Bio led government which wanted to make agriculture fashionable for the young people of this country.

Agriculture, Minister Kabba said, would elevate the people of this nation from poverty.

The ceremony was chaired by the Director General and Ambassador at Large of the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Ambassador Paul A.S.Minah

A team from the National Defence College of Nigeria on Monday 25^th February, 2019 met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Hon. Dr. Alie Kabba at his Tower Hill Office in Freetown for a presentation on the Foreign policy of Sierra Leone.

Speaking on the essence of their visit, the Deputy Commandant and Director of Studies at the National Defense College of Nigeria, Major general Peter Dauke said was to afford participants the opportunity to understand the bilateral and geopolitical relationships between Sierra Leone and Nigeria.

He said the visit will equally give participants the opportunity to understand the dynamics of international politics and its impact on Sierra Leone.

The theme for their visit Major General Dauke said was to look at agriculture and other national development priorities where Nigeria could benefit from the experience of Sierra Leone.

The Deputy Commandant and Director of Studies gave a synopsis of the college which he said was established years back and that since its inception, they have trained and graduated over 2000 participants from different Ministries, Departments and Agencies.

He said the college prepared senior officers for operational and strategic level appointments for both national and international levels.

The National Defense College of Nigeria he said was charged with the responsibility of Strategic Leadership training for Senior Officers of the Arm Forces of Nigeria, the Nigeria Police Force, strategic MDAs and also officers from other countries.

The Hon. Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Dr. Alie Kabba welcomed the participants with the depth of historical ties between the two countries which he said was a special relationship that the people and government appreciated and prioritized.

He said Sierra Leone has perceived Nigeria as a reliable, steady and trusted partner since independence.

The two countries he explained, are active members of the international system and that they have been able to advance their common interests not only within West Africa, ECOWAS, AU, but also internationally.

Minister Kabba went on to state that, Nigeria is a major stabilizing force in the region and as a government, they are confident that Nigeria’s growing stature in the international system is good for the continent.

Dr. Kabba said the presence of the participants from the National Defense Force of Nigeria was an affirmation of the special bond that connected the two countries. This bond he maintained, Sierra Leone is taking every opportunity to deepen and strengthen it.

He assured the participants that under the ‘New Direction’ Government of President Julius Maada Bio, they would continue to strengthen the blossoming of those ties in a very strategic way as it was in the mutual interest of the two countries.

The meeting was climaxed with a presentation on the Foreign Policy of Sierra Leone and was chaired by the Director General and Ambassador at Larger, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Mr Paul Minah

The Hungarian delegation led by the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Ietvan Soo has paid a courtesy call on the Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Mrs. Nimatulai Bah-Chang at her Tower Hill office in Freetown. Mr. Ietvan Soo briefed the Acting Minister on the purpose of their visit to Sierra Leone which is to explore business opportunities, and understands development needs of the Government. He told the Minister that Hungary is interested in Economic Cooperation in the areas of water sector, agriculture, energy and bilateral trade in Sierra Leone. He added that the inauguration of the Honorary Consul office in Sierra Leone will increase cooperation between Sierra Leone and Hungary, adding that the inauguration of the Consular Office in Sierra Leone is a reinforcement of Hungary’s presence in the Continent of Africa. The meeting was held on the 13th February, 2019.

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The Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Dr. Alie Kabba has briefed the Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation on work accomplished by his ministry in the past eight months in governance. The meeting was organized at the Ministry’s Tower Hill Office Conference Hall in Freetown on 4^th February, 2019. In his introductory statement, Minister Kabba reminded the Foreign Affairs Committee on His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio’s

maiden address to Honourable Members at State Opening of Parliament on 10^th May 2018, he stated among other things that “… the New Direction Government will place the highest premium on development and economic diplomacy as a core national interest…” President Bio further stated that “My Government will specifically carryout the following: (i) elaborate a new robust foreign policy for Sierra Leone with a clearly focused re-orientation that will de-emphasize dependence on foreign aid in favour of promoting favourable development and trade relations consistent with evolving global trends and anticipated outcomes for national economic development (ii) restructure the foreign Ministry to fully reflect the new national policy objectives” to name but few.

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