On Thursday, April 4, 2024, at the State House in Freetown, His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio cordially welcomed His Excellency Sheikh Shakboot Nahyan Al Nahyan, the Minister of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the United Arab Emirates. The meeting was to continue the conversation about strengthening Sierra Leone-UAE bilateral and diplomatic ties in the wake of President Bio’s recent visit to the UAE in March.
President Bii and Minister Al Nahyan discussed how to achieve both countries’ development goals by securing common goals during their meeting. Sierra Leone expressed gratitude to His Highness Mohamed Bin Zayed, the President of the United Arab Emirates, for his commitment to advancing the nation’s development agenda. Based on mutual respect and trust, both parties reaffirmed their commitment to cooperating to advance sustainable growth that benefits both Sierra Leone and the United Arab Emirates.
President Bii and Minister Al Nahyan’s talks emphasised the possibility of stepping up collaboration in several areas, such as trade, investment, infrastructure development, and technology transfer. Both sides agreed that deeper ties were essential to improve economic prospects and advance socio-economic development in Sierra Leone.
President Bii praised the UAE’s ongoing assistance in this area and underlined Sierra Leone’s dedication to fostering an environment favourable for foreign investment. Additionally, he conveyed the readiness of his government to look into new opportunities for cooperation with the UAE in fields like renewable energy, healthcare, and education.
The meeting between Minister Al Nahyan and President Bii emphasised how eager both countries are to strengthen their alliance and collaborate to realise their common development goals. The two countries’ continued talks demonstrate a strong commitment to promoting deeper ties and laying the groundwork for sustained cooperation.
