Sierra Leone-UK Ties Strengthened By Vice President Berewa's Visit

The Honourable Vice President, Mr. Solomon E. Berewa, was in London as leader of a high- powered Government Delegation comprising the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Trade and Industry, Mineral Resources and the Chairman of the National Commission for Privatisation.

A two day Forum organised by the newly-formed UK-Sierra Leone Business Forum headed by Lord Freeman which formed the main highlight of the visit gave the Vice President and his team the opportunity to brief a cross section of members of the British Parliament and Executives of reputable enterprises and potential investors in Britain on the progress Sierra Leone has made in consolidating the peace, the implementation of the National Recovery Programme and the fostering of the business climate.

During the two day Forum, which was held at the House of Lords and Price Water House Cooper headquarters respectively, an in-depth analysis of the investment potential of the country and the progress Government has made in restoring law and order, good governance and democracy was given. The creation of an enabling environment for investment through the renewal of business legislation and procedures and the upgrading of incentives and institutions, including Government's approval of an investor-friendly Investment Code, a One-Stop Centre at the Sierra Leone Export Development and Investment Corporation (SLEDIC) for easy business registration and establishment were also highlighted. British investors were invited to locate within an Industrial and Economic Zone to be set up by Government where they will be offered special incentives, once the construction of the structures and facilities were completed. They were further invited to participate in the establishment and running of Export Processing Zones in Sierra Leone.

Government's privatisation framework for its various parastatals/state enterprises for privatisation was also explained to the Forum.

Prior to the Forum, the Vice President and his team also held meetings with British Government Ministers and officials, the Commonwealth Secretary General and the Chairman of De Beers Group.

In his engagements with the British Government, the Vice President held fruitful discussions with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Minister responsible for the United Nations, Mr. Ramel, the Armed Forces Minister, Mr. Adam Ingram, the Director-General of DFID, Dr Nicholas Brewer and the Director for Africa (Equatorial) in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Mr. Tim Hitchens.

In his discussions the Vice President placed special emphasis on the Security Sector Review, the Armed Forces accommodation project (Operation PEBU), the decentralisation process and Local Government elections, the National Recovery Process and Government's effort in combating corruption.

Responding British Ministers and Government officials reaffirmed their commitment to the security of Sierra Leone and its long process of recovery. They assured the Vice President of their continued engagement with the issues raised.

The Commonwealth Secretary General responding to remarks made by the Vice President assured him and the government of Sierra Leone of the Secretariat's dedication to seeing through all on-going projects initiated by them. He also promised to look into the possibility of lending support to the process of reactivating Cooperatives in Sierra Leone. The Vice President thanked the Secretary General for his personal efforts in supervising the support for Sierra Leone.

As part of the activities of the visit, an all-party parliamentary group for Sierra Leone was launched in the House of Commons under the chairmanship of Mr. Winn Griffiths, Labour Member of Parliament, and the Deputy Chairmanship of Mr. Tony Baldry, Conservative M.P.

In another engagement, the Vice President and the Minister of Mineral Resources extended an invitation to the Chairman of De Beers to resume their activities in Sierra Leone. The Chairman of De Beers, Mr. Nicky Oppenheimer, promised considering the resumption of prospecting activities by his companies in Sierra Leone and mentioned the possibility of taking part in the diamond marketing industry.

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