Post a comment 
Sierra Leone’s Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, H.E. Mohamed S. Barrie, has held high-level talks with the Chief Executive Officer of the Saudi Fund for Development (SFD), H.E. Sultan Abdulrahman Al-Marshad, aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation and accelerating the implementation of key development projects in Sierra Leone.
The meeting, held on Sunday, 26th July 2026, at the Saudi Fund for Development headquarters in Riyadh, focused on advancing ongoing projects and exploring new investment opportunities in critical sectors, including health, energy, education and mining.
A key objective of Ambassador Barrie’s visit was to formally present information on the revised site for the Riyadh Referral Hospital Project, a US$50 million, 150-bed specialist medical facility funded by the Saudi Fund for Development. The project is regarded as one of Sierra Leone’s flagship healthcare infrastructure initiatives and is expected to significantly enhance specialist medical services across the country.
Welcoming the Sierra Leonean delegation, SFD CEO Sultan Abdulrahman Al-Marshad commended the progress made on the Fund’s portfolio in Sierra Leone. He disclosed that approximately 80 percent of ongoing SFD-supported projects are nearing completion, including two education projects, while borehole drilling works have reached about 40 percent completion.
During the discussions, both sides reaffirmed their commitment to expanding cooperation through several strategic initiatives. The Government of Sierra Leone will, as an immediate priority, submit a Request for Proposals (RFP) for consultancy services on the Riyadh Referral Hospital project for the Fund’s review and approval.
The Saudi Fund also expressed strong interest in supporting mining and energy projects in Sierra Leone. Ambassador Barrie pledged to engage the Ministries of Energy and Mines to identify viable investment opportunities and facilitate the submission of bankable project proposals.
As part of efforts to deepen engagement, Ambassador Barrie will coordinate a visit by Sierra Leone’s Minister of Energy to Riyadh for strategic meetings with the CEO of the Saudi Fund for Development and the Saudi Minister responsible for Energy and Mines.
The discussions also covered the proposed NPRA Tank Farm Project, with the SFD CEO indicating a keen interest in supporting the initiative. At the request of Ambassador Barrie, Mr. Al-Marshad further expressed his desire to visit Sierra Leone at the earliest opportunity to strengthen collaboration and assess ongoing projects.
Ambassador Barrie thanked the Saudi Fund for Development for its continued support to Sierra Leone’s development agenda and reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to transparency, efficiency and the timely implementation of all jointly funded projects.
The meeting concluded on a positive note, with both parties expressing confidence that the Riyadh Referral Hospital and other ongoing development initiatives will substantially improve public service delivery and enhance the quality of life for the people of Sierra Leone.
