Russia, Sierra Leone discuss cooperation in various spheres of economy - Lavrov

MOSCOW, January 29. /TASS/. Russia and Sierra Leone will make additional steps to galvanize the trade-economic and humanitarian ties, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said a press conference after negotiations with Sierra Leone's Minister of Foreign Affairs Alie Kabba. "Russia and Sierra Leone have mutual interest in the development of cooperation," he noted. "It firstly concerns the trade-economic and humanitarian component of our ties. We agreed to undertake additional steps to start the implementation of promising projects in such areas as metal mining industry, energy industry and fishing, and we value that during this visit Mr Kabba will visit the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Federal Agency for Fishery and the Health Ministry." The Russian foreign minister reiterated that last year Russian experts held a seminar for the training of medical staff for Sierra Leone. "Today, we discussed that the science center of epidemiology and prevention of infectious diseases which has operated in Guinea since 2017 and was created with Russia’s support may spread its programs to the neighboring countries, including Sierra Leone," he added. The Russian minister also pointed to the need "to enhance the quality of cooperation in the sphere of fishing." "In the Sierra Leonean capital Freetown there is a corresponding institute and there are opportunities to help in the organization of the educational process and the advanced training of the corresponding specialists," he noted. In addition, he said, the common task is "the creation of favorable conditions for the activity of Russian business circles in Sierra Leone for direct communication between businessmen from the two countries." Lavrov said in conclusion that the sides "also agreed to continue cooperation in the preparation of national personnel for Sierra Leone in Russia’s higher educational institutions." "A total of more than 2,000 Sierra Leonean citizens graduated from higher educational institutions of our country," he said. "Yesterday, immediately upon the arrival to the Russian capital the minister met with Sierra Leone’s students who are studying in Russia." Read more