The First Lady of Sierra Leone, Mrs. Fatima Maada Bio has disclosed that she has been consistently using Sierra Leonean made clothings throughout the last one year for both indoor and outdoor activities.

She made this announcement while officially opening a three-day ‘Made-In-Sierra Leone’ Trade Fair and Exhibition at the Radisson Blu Mammy Yoko Hotel Garden in Freetown, organised by the Sierra Leone Local Content Agency (SLLCA) on Friday May 20 2022.

In her keynote address, the First Lady described her made in Sierra Leone clothing as the most beautiful dresses she had ever put on, which, according to her, continues to attract so much admiration from local and international friends.

She associates the good news to the added value and quality being invested by brilliant women and men that are passionate about promoting ‘Made in Sierra Leone’ products.

Mrs. Bio said she is humbled to be amid Sierra Leonean business experts in their various fields, along with partners that are more than ready to promote the made in Sierra Leone platform, which, according to her, is an opportunity for women to celebrate and support one another. According to her, it requires stronger forces and partners to develop the small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to support the general growth and development of the nation’s economy.

She congratulated the business community for surviving the COVID-19 pandemic.

On behalf of her husband and the country, the First Lady expressed gratitude to development partners who are supporting SMEs and the “Made in Sierra Leone” initiative nationwide, while assuring the government and the country’s approximately 52 percent of women of the government’s continued support.

She said a government that empowers women enjoys development.

Mrs. Bio said: “When the enterprises are successful, they take care of many problems in our homes, from health, education to food.”

She made a clarion call for partners to continue to support the made in Sierra Leone imitative.

The First Lady said she was very impressed with the local goods she saw on display, while urging all present to patronise accordingly.

She expressed optimism that the three-day trade fair will showcase the nation’s local content, as she called on all to use the opportunity to appreciate those business people by way of buying their products.

“As the industry undergoes transformation under the leadership of the Director-General of SLLCA, Fodeba Daboh, the institution has been moved from baby’s steps to where it is today,” she added, while encouraging the DG to continue the good work.

The Director-General of SLLCA, Mr. Fodeba Daboh, said the purpose of the ‘Buyers and Sellers’ meet is to bring local suppliers across the country together to showcase their different local contents to fellow Sierra Leoneans and the world at large. He said local content is not only about competing locally, but rather, it is also about international competitiveness and ensuring that goods and services, including people from this part of the world, are placed in a better position to compete internationally.

The Minister of Trade and Industry, Dr. Edward Hinga Sandy said: “What we are seeing on display here is a true testament of the work of people who believe in themselves and have been doing this trade for a long time, making sure citizens are better placed in a way that they can produce what we consume.”

The minister applauds the work of SLLCA, stressing that they are making gains under the leadership of Fodeba Daboh.

According to him: “We are seeing a new trajectory of energy and much life, ranging from the increase in the number of companies to a more responsive local content law in the SLLCA Act.”