Ambassador Ron Strikker of Netherlands has paid a Courtesy Call on the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Mrs. Nimatulai Bah-Chang accompanied by Binta Jalloh Managing Director of Bintex at her Tower Hill Office in Freetown.

The meeting was to brief the Deputy Minister on Ambassador Ron Strikker’s visits to Sierra Leone as part of Netherlands Commitment to strengthen ties with Africa and to work with the continent to help address the emerging challenges. The Ambassador added that Netherlands has been promoting economic relations, offering training and scholarship possibilities to Sierra Leone, adding that they are ‘working with the National Revenue Authority (NRA) and the Sierra Leone Export and Investment Promotion Agency(SLEIPA) and they have even provided a training project for custom officials at NRA.

Ambassador Ron Strikker also stated that his Country would continue to work with this new government for the betterment of the country. He added that his visits is to enhance trade and agriculture as a major focus to deepen cooperation, as he has already visited yele, one of the small towns in Sierra Leone, located in the Tonkolili District where 2,000 tons of palm oil has been produced by the local people. He also emphasized the need to cooperate on other issues of common interest especially on Hygiene, Health, Education and more.

Welcoming the Netherlands’ Ambassador to the Ministry, Mrs. Nimatulai Bah-Chang, underscored the Significance of the visit of the Ambassador to the Republic of Sierra Leone, which is aimed at broadening

and deepening the existing bilateral relations between the two countries. She further stated that Government’s commitment to enhance the Agricultural Sector will add value to the local products and create employment for young people, and that His Excellency, Dr. Julius Maada Bio is committed to Fostering cooperation and collaboration with the Netherlands and he appreciates everything the Netherlands has done for Sierra Leone, especially their commitment to the country during the Ebola Outbreak.

Present were: the Deputy Director General, Mr. Al-Hassan Kondeh and Sia Annie Tejan Deputy Director of Europe.