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The Government of Sierra Leone has taken a major step in advancing the country’s digital transformation by signing a USD$50 million agreement with China National Technical Import & Export Corporation.
The deal, which was formalized by the Ministry of Communications, Technology, and Innovation, is part of the broader SMART Sierra Leone Project aimed at revolutionizing the nation’s digital infrastructure.
The signing ceremony, held on the sidelines of the FOCAC Summit in Beijing, was a landmark moment in Sierra Leone’s efforts to enhance its digital capabilities. President Julius Maada Bio, who was present at the event, outlined the key objectives of the SMART Sierra Leone Project.
These include expanding internet connectivity to over 400,000 citizens who previously lacked access, establishing national data centers to manage and protect the country’s sovereign data, and bolstering security around critical state infrastructure in Freetown.
In a parallel move, the Minister of Communications, Technology, and Innovation, Salima Monorma Bah, also signed an agreement with Huawei Group for the Digital Village Project.
This initiative, set to be implemented in Tormabum, aims to empower farmers and local communities by providing them with online access to crucial information that can improve agricultural productivity and open up new market opportunities.
President Bio emphasized the significance of these projects in his remarks, noting that the SMART Sierra Leone and Digital Village Projects are not only milestones in the partnership with China but also key components of the government’s Big Five Agenda, which prioritizes technology and infrastructure development.
These projects, he said, underscore the government’s commitment to driving digital innovation and improving the livelihoods of Sierra Leoneans.
That is the path I have been working tirelessly in Sierra Leone. Before we talk about new digital Technology, we need to address the problems surrounding E-Waste in Sierra Leone, for which I have been working relentlessly with many setbacks. I hope the government of Sierra Leone will immediately Considering to allocate some of these grant to support E-Waste Management.
I know we need the help, but a country’s digital infrastructure should not be completely built and controlled by another country that will be able to easily access the system. It is not safe