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By Osasómé C.O
The Government of Sierra Leone, through its Ministry of Communications, Technology, and Innovation, has signed a USD$50 million agreement with China National Technical Import & Export Corporation for the implementation of the SMART Sierra Leone Project. The agreement, signed on the sidelines of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Summit in Beijing, marks a major step forward in Sierra Leone’s push for digital transformation.
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President Julius Maada Bio, during the signing ceremony, emphasized the project’s three key objectives: expanding internet connectivity to over 400,000 unconnected citizens, building national data centers to safeguard sovereign data, and strengthening security for critical state infrastructure in Freetown. Sierra Leone’s internet penetration rate was 21.2% as of early 2023.
Signs MoU with Huawei Group for the Digital Village Project
In a related development, Sierra Leone’s Minister of Communications, Technology, and Innovation, Salima Monorma Bah, signed an additional agreement with Huawei Group for the Digital Village Project, set to be launched in Tormabum. The initiative aims to provide farmers and rural communities with access to critical online resources that can improve agricultural productivity and open up new market opportunities.
Agriculture remains a cornerstone of Sierra Leone’s economy, contributing over 60% of the GDP and employing the majority of the population. The Digital Village Project aims to triple farming output, reinforcing agriculture’s role as the backbone of the nation’s economy. President Bio expressed optimism that leveraging technology will significantly enhance the country’s agro-export earnings.
Tech in “Big Five Agenda
Speaking at the event, President Bio reiterated the importance of technology and infrastructure development in the country’s “Big Five Agenda.” He noted that the agreements with China highlight Sierra Leone’s commitment to harnessing digital transformation to drive economic growth.
