India and Sierra Leone held a meeting in New Delhi on Monday to discuss ways to strengthen their friendship and work together in new areas. This was the second round of talks between the two countries, called Foreign Office Consultations (FOC). Both sides agreed to work more closely in areas like defense, energy, and development projects.
The meeting was led by Sevala Naik Mude, a senior official from India’s Ministry of External Affairs, and Alan C. E. Logan, a top official from Sierra Leone’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. They talked about many important topics, including trade, health, education, and people-to-people connections. Both countries also discussed how to help each other grow and improve in different fields.
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India-Sierra Leone agreement
India promised to keep supporting Sierra Leone in building skills and working on development projects. They were happy with the progress made on India Stack, a digital system that helps with large-scale digital transformation. Earlier, both countries had signed an agreement to share successful digital solutions. During the meeting, they discussed the next steps to make this system work in Sierra Leone.
According to the Ministry of External Affair, the two countries also agreed to explore new areas of cooperation, such as defense and energy. They talked about important global and regional issues and how they can work together in international organizations like the United Nations. Sierra Leone showed support for India’s bid to become a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for 2028-29.
Sierra Leone also agreed to speed up the process of joining the International Solar Alliance (ISA), an organization started by India to promote solar energy. They also agreed to recognize Indian Pharmacopoeia, a book of standards for medicines, and join the Global Biofuels Alliance, which promotes the use of biofuels.
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India-Sierra Leone Relationship
India and Sierra Leone have a strong and friendly relationship. In 2020, India opened a mission in Freetown, the capital of Sierra Leone, which has helped the two countries work together more closely. Trade between the two countries has grown a lot in the last ten years, reaching $298 million in 2023-24. Sierra Leone benefits from a special trade scheme by India that allows them to export minerals and other goods to India without paying extra taxes.
There are many opportunities for both countries to work together in areas like agriculture, mining, medicines, and digital technology. Indian companies are also investing in Sierra Leone. For example, a company called Odhav recently invested $240 million in a steel plant there.
The meeting was held in a friendly and positive atmosphere. Both sides agreed to hold the next round of talks in Freetown at a time that works for both countries. This shows their commitment to building a stronger partnership in the future.
