The Indonesian Government has given US$1 million to Sierra Leone to carry out feasibility studies and detailed engineering designs for the proposed Freetown-Tagrin Ferry Service.
The grant comes from Indonesian Aid and aims to develop a ferry connection to improve transport efficiency and promote sustainable and inclusive tourism. Indonesian Aid and the Ministry of Finance of Sierra Leone will sign the agreement.
The government of Sierra Leone, through the Hon. Karefa Kargbo, Minister of Finance, will sign the agreement. Sierra Leone’s Ambassador to Senegal, His Excellency Ibrahim Turay, facilitated the initiative by arranging a bilateral meeting between Minister Kargbo and Indonesian Ambassador to Senegal, His Excellency Ardian Wicaksono.
The meeting was held in Dakar on Saturday, 31 October 2026, on the occasion of the Second Edition of the Sport and Development Summit. Discussions focused on signing the grant agreement promptly, with implementation to start in early 2027.
The proposed ferry service will strengthen the link between Freetown and the Lungi area. The project will also boost tourism, trade, and economic development and enhance travel accessibility.
The grant covers the technical work to assess and design the service and is a step toward preparing the project for implementation. It also emphasises the role of Sierra Leone’s diplomatic missions in seeking economic partnerships and mobilising development funding for national priorities.
Officials say the grant’s successful mobilisation shows how economic diplomacy can attract support for strategic projects such as improved transportation links and opportunities for inclusive tourism.
