Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Tower Hill, Freetown, Tuesday, 1st March 2022: The Ambassasor from the Republic of the Philippines to Sierra Leone, Her Excellency Shirley Ho-Vicario and her delegation has on a Courtesy call met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Professor David J. Francis on bilateral engagements.

Speaking on the purpose of the visit, Her Excellency Shirley Ho-Vicario stated that her delegation was in Sierra Leone on a scoping mission and to discuss bilateral cooperation between Sierra Leone and the Republic of the Philippines. She tabled the idea of signing a Joint Communique on Technical and Agro-Processing Cooperation, and the possibility of bringing in skilled and qualified expatriates to train Sierra Leoneans especially in the Mining and Agricultural sectors. This initiative, she explained, has helped greatly in growing the economy of the Philippines and enabling the Country to have over 10 million skilled workers all over the world.

Welcoming the delegation, the Honorable Minister, Professor David J. Francis acknowledged the presence of the Philippines Honorary Consul in Sierra Leone as a man with high level commitment for cooperation between the two Countries. He reechoed that, the Government of Sierra Leone is highly interested in Human Capacity Building and therefore signing a Joint Cooperation on Technical and Agro-Processing will be taking the Country to a middle level and not always relying on foreign experts.

Professor Francis assured the delegation of the support of the Foreign Ministry to facilitate engagements with relevant Ministries in the implementation of the proposed Joint Cooperation.