The Indian High Commissioner to Sierra Leone, Baisnab Charan Pradhan, convened with Sierra Leone’s Minister of Agriculture and Food Security to explore collaborative opportunities in the agricultural sector, with a particular emphasis on food processing initiatives. The meeting took place at the Youyi Building and served as a platform to discuss the vast potential inherent in Sierra Leone’s agricultural landscape.
During the discussions, High Commissioner Pradhan underscored the importance of establishing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Sierra Leone. He emphasized that such an agreement would lay a solid foundation for deeper cooperation in food production and processing. The High Commissioner expressed India’s readiness to partner with Sierra Leone to harness the country’s agricultural resources effectively.
In addition to the MoU, Pradhan extended an invitation to Minister Kpaka to attend the upcoming India-Africa Business Conclave scheduled for August in New Delhi. He highlighted that this event would focus on agriculture and food processing, presenting a unique opportunity for Sierra Leone to showcase its agricultural potential to Indian and international investors. Pradhan noted that there is considerable interest among Indian investors in the food processing sector of Sierra Leone, and the Minister’s participation would facilitate valuable interactions with potential business and financial partners.
Also present at the meeting was Sierra Leone’s Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates, Rashid Sesay, who reinforced the historical ties and synergies that have existed between India and Sierra Leone. He remarked on the long-standing partnership and the significant opportunities available in the agricultural domain that could benefit both nations.
Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Henry Musa Kpaka, acknowledged India’s impressive growth in various sectors, including agriculture, and expressed optimism about the potential for enhanced relations between Sierra Leone and India. He highlighted India’s successful rice production strategies as a model from which Sierra Leone could learn, assuring his commitment to exploring avenues for future collaboration in the agricultural sector. This meeting marks a crucial step towards fostering a robust partnership aimed at advancing food security and agricultural development in Sierra Leone.
