Nguyen Phuong Tra, Director General of the Middle East and Africa Department, meets with Ambassador of Sierra Leone to China and concurrently to Vietnam Abu Bakarr Karim. (Photo: Ngoc Anh)

On August 13, at the headquarters of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ms. Nguyen Phuong Tra, Director General of the Middle East and Africa Department, held a meeting with Ambassador of Sierra Leone to China and concurrently to Vietnam Abu Bakarr Karim, during his visit to Vietnam.

Representatives from several Vietnamese enterprises interested in exploring investment and business opportunities in the Sierra Leone market also attended the meeting.

During the meeting, Director General Nguyen Phuong Tra highly appreciated Mr. Abu Bakarr Karim, in his role as the current Ambassador of Sierra Leone to Vietnam, as well as his previous positions as the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security and Presidential Advisor, for his significant contributions to promoting economic cooperation and connecting businesses between the two countries.

Director General Nguyen Phuong Tra provided information on Vietnam's major development directions following the 14th Party Congress, new policies facilitating enterprises, and suggested that the two Ministries of Foreign Affairs further promote negotiations and sign foundational cooperation agreements such as the investment protection encouragement agreement and the double taxation avoidance agreement. The representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs requested Ambassador Abu Bakarr Karim to support Vietnamese enterprises seeking to invest in Sierra Leone.

Ambassador Abu Bakarr Karim expressed a special affection for Vietnam, stating that Sierra Leone wishes to strengthen relations with Vietnam, particularly in the fields of trade, investment, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, technology transfer, agriculture, and industrial development.

Nguyen Phuong Tra, Director General of the Middle East and Africa Department, and Abu Bakarr Karim, the Ambassador of Sierra Leone concurrently to Vietnam, along with Vietnamese enterprises at the meeting. (Photo: Ngoc Anh)

Ambassador Abu Bakarr Karim also mentioned that he is supporting the International Science and Technology Application Company Limited in developing and producing the Smart A product in the Sierra Leone market.

According to the Ambassador, the Government of Sierra Leone is committed to facilitating responsible foreign investment activities through preferential policies, streamlined administrative procedures, and enhanced cooperation between relevant government agencies and investors.

Vietnam and Sierra Leone maintain excellent political relations. However, economic relations remain limited. Bilateral trade turnover in 2025 reached approximately 45 million USD.