His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio of Sierra Leone engaged in fruitful discussions on Thursday, April 4, 2024, as he received the esteemed Minister of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), His Excellency Sheikh Shakboot Nahyan Al Nahyan, at the State House in Freetown.

This meeting marked a significant step forward in strengthening the diplomatic ties between Sierra Leone and the UAE.

The visit of Minister Sheikh Shakboot Nahyan Al Nahyan to Sierra Leone comes as a follow-up to President Bio’s recent visit to the UAE in March. The purpose of this continued engagement is to foster deeper collaboration and explore avenues for enhancing bilateral relations between the two nations. Both parties expressed their commitment to advancing mutual interests and shared objectives during the meeting.

Discussions during the meeting revolved around various modalities aimed at concretizing shared objectives to achieve the development ambitions of both Sierra Leone and the UAE. President Bio and Minister Sheikh Shakboot Nahyan Al Nahyan deliberated on strategies to enhance cooperation in key sectors such as trade, investment, infrastructure development, and technology transfer. The emphasis was placed on forging partnerships that would contribute to sustainable economic growth and development in both countries.

Sierra Leone welcomed the unwavering commitment of His Highness Mohamed Bin Zayed, the President of the UAE, towards supporting the development agenda of the Sierra Leonean government. President Bio expressed gratitude for the UAE’s continued support and pledged to work collaboratively towards promoting mutually beneficial sustainable growth for both nations. The foundation of this collaboration is rooted in mutual respect, trust, and a shared vision for prosperity.

President Bio reiterated Sierra Leone’s eagerness to capitalize on the vast opportunities presented by the UAE’s expertise and resources. He emphasized the importance of leveraging partnerships with the UAE to accelerate socio-economic development initiatives in Sierra Leone. The President highlighted specific areas where cooperation could yield significant dividends, including energy, agriculture, education, healthcare, and tourism.

Minister Sheikh Shakboot Nahyan Al Nahyan conveyed the UAE’s sincere commitment to deepening its engagement with Sierra Leone and reiterated the country’s willingness to explore new avenues of cooperation. He praised Sierra Leone’s progress and commended President Bio’s leadership in driving forward the nation’s development agenda. The Minister affirmed the UAE’s readiness to support Sierra Leone in its pursuit of sustainable development and prosperity.

The discussions concluded with both parties expressing optimism about the future trajectory of bilateral relations between Sierra Leone and the UAE. President Bio and Minister Sheikh Shakboot Nahyan Al Nahyan affirmed their commitment to maintaining regular dialogue and fostering closer collaboration in the years ahead. They emphasized the importance of building strong people-to-people ties and facilitating exchanges in various fields to deepen mutual understanding and cooperation.

As Sierra Leone and the UAE embark on a new chapter of enhanced cooperation, both nations are poised to reap the benefits of strengthened diplomatic ties and strategic partnerships. The meeting between President Julius Maada Bio and Minister Sheikh Shakboot Nahyan Al Nahyan serves as a testament to the shared commitment of Sierra Leone and the UAE towards fostering sustainable development, prosperity, and mutual growth.