Sierra Leone Minister of Finance and Economic Development ,Hon. Dr. Keifala Marah and Hon. Leonard Balogun Koroma , Minister of Transport and Aviation have arrived in Beijing , The People’s Republic of China .
FROM LEFT : AMBASSADOR VICTOR FOH, HON. LOGUS KOROMA , CHINESE OFFICIAL AND HON. MARRAH
The ministers will hold discussions with China Exim Bank and China Railway International on the Mamamah International Airport Project ; the Hunan Rice and rubber agricultural project, also with China Exim Bank ; China King Ho Industries on the proposed Deep Sea Port and Railway projects ; and with China Poly Group industries and Zhong Tong bus company on a package to supply 100 – 150 buses to boost public transportation in Sierra Leone ; including rehabilitation and equipping of the Sierra Leone Road Transport Corporation Garage/Workshop ; the supply of 8 well equipped mobile workshops to repair buses broken down on roads and highways; the establishment of a well equipped spare parts shop at the Corporation ; and the rehabilitation and re – establishment of a functional training centre to train drivers and mechanics .
The Minister of Transport and Aviation Hon. Leonard Balogun Koroma in China
On arrival in Beijing on Monday 17th December the Minister of Transport and Aviation and his delegation , including the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Transport and Aviation , Mr. Sahr Kpulum, the General Manager , Sierra Leone Road Transport Authority , Mr. Bockari Lewis Kamara , the Mamamah Airport Project Director, Mr. Morlai Buya Kamara and others were received by Sierra Leone Embassy officials in China led by the Head of Chancery, Mr. Paul Minah .
Dr. Kelfala Marah with the Chairman and President Poly Group China
On Tuesday 17th December, the Minister of Transport and Aviation and team travelled to Shandon Province in China where they were taken on a 2 hours conducted tour of the Zhong Tong bus complex, factory and production line. The Zhong Tong bus company is presently the second largest in China , but with the completion of it’s ongoing construction of a 500 million United States Dollars factory complex, the company will graduate to become the largest in the
whole of China .
With the General Manager of Zhong Tong bus company
Presently Zhong Tong bus company produces over 100 brands, including Toyota Coaster passenger buses and export their products to over 75 countries in Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Australia, the Middle East and Africa .
With the General Manager of Zhong Tong bus company
His Excellency the President Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma approved the bus deal and rehabilitation of the Sierra Leone Road Transport Corporation service centre, and spare parts facility in a decisive effort to solve the public transportation problem in the country .
Dr. Kelfala Marah and Leonard Balogun Koroma at a meeting with SINOSURE China
On Wednesday 18th December, the Hon. Minister of Finance and Economic Development, Transport and Aviation , Ambassador Victor Bockari Foh and other members of the delegation held a very successful meeting with the Chairman and President of the Export- Import Bank of China, LI RUOGU at the Bank’s Headquarters in Beijing on several projects the bank is financing in Sierra Leone.
The China Export- Import Bank President conveyed greetings to His Excellency President Ernest Bai Koroma and recalled the 2 meetings he has had with President Koroma to discuss developmental projects for Sierra Leone.
The delegation will meet with several other Chinese companies doing business or intending to invest in Sierra Leone before leaving Beijing next week.
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