The Republic of Korea has donated Information Technology (IT) equipment worth over $200, 000 to the Foreign Affairs Academy to help support the work of the Academy.
The equipment was handed over to Ambassador Soulay Daramy, head of the Foreign Academy service by the Korean Ambassador to Sierra Leone, Ambassador Kim Young Chae, in the presence of the special envoy of the President of the Republic of Korea. H.E Mr Chung Hwang-keun.
Ambassador Kim Young Chae, in his statement, applauded the establishment of the Foreign Service Academy and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for their exemplary work in fostering Sierra Leone’s interest around the globe.
Ambassador Chae expressed the importance of the Sierra Leone – Korea relationship. He disclosed that the Republic of Korea will officially open its embassy in Sierra Leone next year, and thanked Minister Timothy Kabba for his outstanding work.
The special envoy of the President of the Republic of Korea, who is also Korea’s Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, H.E Mr Chung Hwang-keun, brought greetings to Sierra Leone, as the special envoy of the President of Korea. He thanked President Julius Maada Bio and Minister Timothy Kabba for warmly welcoming him to Sierra Leone, explaining that he was in Sierra Leone to strengthen the Korean-Sierra Leone relationship. He added that both countries depend on each other, which is the reason for signing an MOU to support Sierra Leone’s agriculture and human capital initiatives, and to support each other’s interests.
“Korea has a deep relationship with Africa, and Sierra Leone is on the verge of joining the Korea-Africa ambition, as both countries will serve as non-permanent members at the UN Security Council. We have signed an MOU on the rice project to help support Sierra Leone’s agriculture drive and render support to other areas,” He stated.
“I am honoured to be here at the Foreign Service Academy to help boost Sierra Leone’s Foreign Academy and to help foster the Sierra Leone-Korea relationship”, H.E Mr Chung Hwang-keun noted.
Sierra Leone’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Mr Timothy Kabba, thanked the Korean special envoy for visiting the country and conveying the special message of his President to the people of Sierra Leone.
Mr Kabba, also reiterated the importance of the MOU signed between Sierra Leone and the Republic of Korea to boost the country’s agriculture and food security drive.
Minister Kabba summarized the Korean success story that started In the early 1950s, wherein South Korea started a journey to boost its human capital development, and today they are up there, as one of the biggest economies in the world, with massive human capital. “Five years ago H.E. President Bio started a journey to develop Sierra Leone’s Human Capital, and now we are seeing huge children having access to quality education. President Bio has also launched the ‘Feed Salone’ initiative to boost Sierra Leone’s food security. President Bio’s ‘Feed Salone’ initiative is a leaf borrowed from South Korea’s development initiative, which he hopes to replicate for the development of Sierra Leone into a middle-income country,” he revealed. Minister Kabba explained that there are numerous challenges facing West Africa, as Sierra Leone is preparing to take its seat as a non-permanent member at the UN Security Council, but assured the visiting Korean team that Sierra Leone will do her best in representing Africa. He thanked the Korean envoy for the donation and assured him that the Academy would be of use to Guniea and Liberia. “Thank you for this gesture and I assure you that we will continue to work together to strengthen our relationship and promote our best interests. We appreciate the relationship with the Republic of Korea.” Mr Kabba stated.
