By Emma Black
In a significant diplomatic engagement, Indian high commissioner to Sierra Leone, Baisnab Charan Pradhan, met with Sierra Leone’s Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Henry Musa Kpaka, on Thursday, June 12, 2025, at the Youyi Building, the discussions centered on strengthening agricultural initiatives, with a particular focus on food processing mechanisms to boost Sierra Leone’s food security.
High commissioner Pradhan highlighted the immense potential within Sierra Leone’s agricultural sector, expressing India’s readiness to collaborate. He proposed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the two nations to lay the groundwork for enhanced cooperation in food production, this partnership can unlock significant opportunities,” Pradhan noted, emphasizing the need for a formal framework.
Pradhan extended an invitation to Minister Kpaka to attend the India-Africa Business Conclave in New Delhi, scheduled for August 2025, which will spotlight agriculture and food processing. He underscored the event’s potential as a platform to showcase Sierra Leone’s agricultural strengths to Indian and international investors, many Indian businesses are eager to invest in Sierra Leone’s food processing sector, he said, adding that Kpaka’s participation could foster direct meetings with financial and business partners to attract investment.
Also present was Sierra Leone’s Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates with accreditation to India, Rashid Sesay, who reflected on the longstanding ties between the two countries. He praised India’s consistent support in agriculture, highlighting mutual benefits from deepened collaboration.
Minister Kpaka lauded India’s rise as a global power, particularly in population and agriculture, and expressed optimism about bilateral relation, citing India’s success in rice production as a model, he affirmed his commitment to exploring cooperative opportunities, this partnership holds great promise for Sierra Leone’s agricultural future, Kpaka concluded, this meeting signals a potential turning point for Sierra Leone’s agricultural sector, with both nations poised to leverage their strengths for mutual growth.
Copyright –Published in Expo Times News on Wednesday, 18th June, 2025 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)
