Sierra Leone’s government has secured a $50 million agreement with China National Technical Import & Export Corporation to fund the SMART Sierra Leone Project. This significant deal was finalized in Beijing during the Forum on China–Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Summit, a key event aimed at strengthening ties between China and African nations.
The SMART Sierra Leone Project, funded by the Export-Import Bank of China, is a major step in Sierra Leone’s digital transformation efforts. The project’s goals include expanding internet connectivity to over 400,000 previously unconnected citizens, establishing national data centres for managing and protecting sovereign data, and enhancing security around critical infrastructure in Freetown.
This initiative aligns with Sierra Leone’s Big Five Agenda, which focuses on improving education, agriculture, healthcare, infrastructure, and job creation. Current statistics show internet penetration at 21.2%, with a projected increase to at least 50% by 2023, and the number of internet users expected to rise from 1.84 million in 2023 to 2.9 million by 2030.
At the same event, Sierra Leone’s Minister of Communications, Technology and Innovation, Salima Monorma Bah, signed an additional agreement with Huawei Group for the Digital Village Project. This project aims to provide farmers and rural communities with online access to information, enhancing agricultural productivity and market opportunities.
President Julius Maada Bio emphasized that these partnerships underscore Sierra Leone’s commitment to digital innovation and infrastructure development. He noted that the SMART Sierra Leone and Digital Village Projects represent significant progress in the country’s collaboration with China and highlight the importance of technology in the nation’s development strategy.
These developments mark a pivotal moment in Sierra Leone’s technological and infrastructural advancement, paving the way for greater connectivity and improved services across the country.
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