The Governor of the Bank Of Sierra Leone has signed the Banking Agreement on Accounting Procedures with China Development Bank (CDB) of China, clearing the way for the implementation of the Economic And Technical Cooperation Agreement between the Government of Sierra Leone and the Government of the Peoples Republic of China.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Dr Samura Kamara reiterated Government’s commitment to a strong bilateral relation between Sierra Leone and China. As the Governor of the Central Bank of Sierra Leone he expressed a strong desire to forge closer ties between the Bank of Sierra Leone and the Central Bank of the Peoples Republic of China. A tie that will help build knowledge and capacity in both institutions, through exchange programmes.
Governor Kamara pledged the Bank’s cooperation with the Chinese Financial Sector in the event that they need information on financial or monetary policy or data on the financial sector in Sierra Leone. He thanked the Government of the Peoples Republic of China for their continued support to the Government and People of Sierra Leone.
Signing on behalf of the China Development Bank (CDB), Zhao Zhongqiu, Economic and Commercial Counsellor in the Chinese Embassy in Sierra Leone, appraised the Governor of the impetus this agreement will give to Chinese Development Projects for Sierra Leone.
He reminded the Governor that the Chinese Government would be using the new agreement signed with the Bank of Sierra Leone to channel funds to Sierra Leone under the Economic and Technical Agreement, to implement development projects approved by the Government of Sierra Leone.
Through this agreement the Bank of Sierra Leone will make it possible for the China Development Bank to start the Hospital Construction Project, agreed with the Government of Sierra Leone, almost immediately. The design of this ultra modern hospital is expected to take four months while its construction will take eighteen months. During the construction, Zhao Zhongqiu said, China will run a clinic in Sierra Leone dedicated to providing treatment for malaria. This project he maintains will also provide Medical instruments and equipment for the new hospital as well as medical experts that will teach at the Sierra Leone Medical school.