The Goodwill Ambassador of Israel in Sierra Leone Sirajin Rollings-Kamara has told Awoko in an interview that Israel companies are planning massive investment in Sierra Leone and one of the first projects they intend to kick start is the building of a new airport along the Lumpa axis to alleviate the suffering of people going through to Lungi.
He said this would be good for the country as it will definitely encourage more investment and be more secure for all. The Israeli’s also plan to invest in Agriculture, Fishing and Mining.
Rollings-Kamara disclosed that a visiting delegation was in town a couple of days ago to do feasibility studies as well as meeting with the President and other government officials to proclaim their interest in investing in the country.
He disclosed that they have a package of $120 million which they intend to spend in Sierra Leone in the coming years.
Speaking on agriculture, he said the Israeli’s have already identified the areas across the country where they are ready to start an agricultural community where they will develop the area by building schools, housing facilities, recreation and a massive agricultural rice farm which proceeds will be consumed locally as well as for export.
The Goodwill Ambassador stressed that this is a project that would be of immense benefit to the country through employment, housing and income for all.
Also he said the Israelis are in sympathy with Sierra Leone as our marine products are stolen and cannot be processed because we have no Fishing Harbour for processing the products.
“They are also planning to help us in the patrolling of our waters in order to minimize the poaching of our marine resources’, he said.
Mr Rollings-Kamara told Awoko that the country is endowed with riches and we need to move from the conventional approach if we are to harness our resources. He said the Israelis believe in an investment approach rather than giving aid.
The other sector they are also considering with serious interest is the diamond sector that should have benefited the country more than what we have received. They also observed that the country does not have a diamond polishing office in the country that should give us more advantage in exporting the diamonds.
In an example given by the Israelis, they said if they buy $1 million worth of diamonds raw, after polishing them, they are going to sell them five times the cost, so they are able to make more profit. This is what they intend to do for the country very soon he said.
The Goodwill Ambassador assured all Sierra Leoneans that the coming of the Isreali commercial business has nothing to do with international politics, “they are sincere in the planned investment and they believe Sierra Leone deserves better from their resources to make the country a better place”.
The projects and their intentions will be under the Wealth for Help and Sierra Leone will be one of the African Beneficiaries.
Mr Rollings-Kamara said he was happy for President Koroma who gave his blessings for these projects because he is determined to see Sierra Leone become a developed country.
Presently, the President has approved all these projects and it is expected that in October the final round of negotiations will be completed to kick start the projects in the country.
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