As stakeholders continue to partner together to boost the Country’s potential for variety of Industries thereby contributing to the socio-economic development of the country, the Director General of the United Nations Industrialization Development Organization [UNIDO] Dr. Kandeh Yumkella invited Ministries, Departments and Agencies authorities at Hotel Barmoi.
The purpose of the meeting is to strategize and deliberate on the furtherance of issues relating to energy, fisheries, agri-business and industries among many others thereby discussing thoroughly on how UNIDO can better support government development strategies through the represented MDA’s.
Among the MDA’s represented was the Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources Dr. Soccoh Kabbia, Minister of Energy and Water Resources Professor Ogunlade Davidson, Vice Chancellor and Principal Njala University Alhaji Professor Abu Sesay, Deputy Minister 1 Ministry of Agriculture Forestry and Food Security, UNIDO Regional Representative based in Nigeria Dr. Kumawa, Chairman Centre for Agric-business Development Sanusi-Deen Sesay and UNIDO staff working on different projects and FINNIC among others.
In their [MDA’s] separate contributions, the representatives of the MDA’s highlighted what they have been doing and recommended how the support and partnership can foster ahead and if adhered to, will benefit the nation greatly.
They said there is room for partnership and for the support to target the right institutions as Njala is at the centre for the right training. At this junction, the MDA’s representatives thanked UNIDO Director General Dr. Kandeh Yumkella as he is using his influence to bring back goods and services to Sierra Leone.
Giving his briefing at the working meeting, the Head of UNIDO Sierra Leone Dr. Bainous Kargbo revealed the process involved for the ground breaking ceremony for site to be constructed. He disclosed that there is Six Hundred and Fifty Thousand United States Dollar (US$650,000) is meant for capacity building and curricular manual development for trainers.
Briefing the MDA’s on Energy, Dr Bainous Kargbo said the OPEC Fund is prepared to contribute Fourteen Million United States Dollar (US$14m) while the Economic Community of West African States Bank for Investment and Development is willing to contribute up to the tune of Ten Million United States Dollars ($10m) for developmental projects related to industrialization.
He further revealed that re-commitment has been made with the Bank and they are now waiting for an official letter from the bank for onward transmission of the fund. He disclosed that the Executive Representative of the Secretary General of the United Nations Michael Schulenburg has provided funding to
UNIDO in which UNIDO will be constructing growth centre in Moyamba whilst International Labor Organization he revealed shall provide funding for the road leading to the growth site and centre.
Dr. Kargbo said the United Nations Fund for Population Activity will be working with young people in Moyamba while UNIFEM will be working with the women as a number of UN Agencies have promised to work in such direction.
The Director General of UNIDO Dr. Kandeh Yumkella revealed that some authorities visited Vienna.
He stated that the Government of India will give a Bio-Energy Machine to the Government of Sierra Leone which he said will be located at Njala. He encouraged the Vice Chancellor and Principal of Njala University Alhaji Professor Abu Sesay to institute a bio-energy training centre for ethanol.
Dr. Yumkella pledged One Hundred Thousand United States Dollar (US$100,000) for the promotion of industrialization work and appealed to the MDA’s to approach companies for their own corporate social responsibilities as another renewable energy project for energy solution are in Kambia he said.
He ended by calling on mining companies for the generation of local foodstuff which will help to boost the economy as Ministries he said should integrate themselves so that they cannot be compartmentalized.
By Alhaji M. Kamara
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