President Bio’s Excellent Relationship…
Deepens Ties With Iran’s Republic
By Elizabeth Campbell
In March of 2024, Sierra Leone’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Musa Timothy Kabbah, met with the Foreign Minister of Iran in the Saudi Port City of Jeddah where bilateral discussions on the two countries were done.
During the meeting Minister Timothy Kabbah said Iran and Sierra Leone have long-term and stable relations and cooperation, and that Sierra Leone is interested in developing bilateral cooperation and deepening friendly ties with Iran given the important place of Iran in the world and its capabilities in various fields.
This was a sideline meeting with both Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian and his Sierra Leonean counterpart Timothy Musa Kabba during the Organization of the Islamic Cooperation (OIC)'s extraordinary meeting on the situation of Gaza.
During the sideline meeting the two sides called for the strengthening of political, economic, and trade ties.
With Sierra Leone’s President Julius Maada Bio’s excellent relationship, Iran is ready to cooperate with Sierra Leone in the fields of energy, agriculture, technology, and other fields of interest.
Since Sierra Leone assume the position of a non-permanent member of the Security Council and the country's role in both the Security Council and the African Union the government continue to make a strong voice on the African initiative in the International Court of Justice (ICJ) which is crucial.
Sierra Leone considers itself as a partner of Iran in regional and international issues and is determined to cooperate more with Iran in these fields, especially combatting terrorism.
The Iranian private sector is now visible in Sierra Leone and ready to deepen ties with the West African country.
President Julius Maada Bio’s excellent relationship across the world, more and more investments are now yarning to come to the country.
From Iran, the President and Chief Executive Officer of Iranian-based Company Arman Tejarat Sabz Saei-Farhad Torabi this year, expresses keen interest in expanding operations in the Country.
Sierra Leone’s vast land coupled with raw materials to power industrial chains, the country’s labour is in abundance as youth of that country are ready to actualize President Bio’s dream of youth employment and empowerment. The establishment of factories by Iranian companies will focus on the Food Industry, Building Design and Materials, Cosmetics, machinery, Spare parts and consumables.
Sierra Leone is one of the best places on the Continent to invest and do business as the country is open to serious investors who will create jobs for the people. Both Iran and Sierra Leone has an excellent trading agreement, this agreement has been cemented by this government that is now yielding fruits. Iran export to Sierra Leone was US$176 Thousand in 2020, according to the United Nations COMTRADE Database on international trade. This figure has change in 2024 as of July. While Sierra Leone’s export to Iran as at June 2024 stands at US$186 Million.
This trade agreement between the two countries aligned government commitment on the Mid-Term National Development Plan priorities on trade and business. It also strengthening partnerships to support. President Bio travels have yielded so much and with his excellent relationship with the Islamic people Republic of Iran Sierra Leone is set to benefit more.
