Sierra Leone’s Minister of Transport and Aviation, Ambassador Col. (Rtd.) Alhaji Fanday Turay, hosted a senior delegation from Egypt’s Arab Contractors Company on Thursday for high-level discussions aimed at expanding transportation and infrastructure cooperation throughout the country.
The visiting delegation was led by Ing. Hassan Ibrahim, a company board member, and Ing. Osama El-Dasouki, Director of Maasara Shipyard. Meetings at the Ministry focused on a broad agenda, including strengthening regional transportation corridors, building bridges and airports, and developing local capacity to manufacture sea transport ferries. The discussions focused on practical projects that could improve Sierra Leone’s internal connectivity and links with neighbouring West African countries.
Minister Turay expressed strong support for initiatives that would reduce travel times for both people and cargo by building a more robust network of roads and bridges. He emphasised the importance of improved air infrastructure in accommodating rising passenger numbers while also promoting tourism and trade growth. The Minister emphasised the importance of international partnerships in accelerating planned transportation network upgrades and welcomed Arab Contractors’ experience with large-scale infrastructure delivery.
The discussions focused on Sierra Leone’s reliance on maritime transport and the potential benefits of building domestic ferry capacity. Delegates discussed plans for a modern shipyard or ferry-building facility capable of producing passenger and cargo vessels tailored to Sierra Leone’s specifications. Arab Contractors officials outlined their technical expertise and previous experience in shipyard construction and marine vessel fabrication, indicating a desire to contribute to the country’s maritime modernisation.
Following their bilateral meeting at the Ministry, the Egyptian delegation paid site visits to the Sierra Leone Ports and Harbours Authority (SLPHA) and the Sierra Leone Maritime Administration (SLMA). These visits allowed us to assess ongoing port modernisation efforts and identify areas where Egyptian technical assistance and investment could accelerate operational improvements, improve cargo handling efficiency, and support regulatory and safety upgrades in the maritime sector.
Both sides described the interactions as positive, citing mutual benefits from increased cooperation. Minister Turay thanked the Arab Contractors delegation for their visit and expressed optimism that the discussion would lead to concrete project planning. The meetings concluded with a commitment to ongoing dialogue aimed at developing partnerships to strengthen Sierra Leone’s transportation infrastructure and regional economic integration.
