By Sulaiman Jalloh
Sierra Leone is preparing to enter the global seafood market with fish exports to China, one of the world’s largest importers of marine products, according to Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources, Princess Dugba.
Speaking at a government press briefing held in Freetown on Tuesday, July 8, 2025, Minister Dugba confirmed that the long-awaited $55 million grant from the Chinese government approved by the Sierra Leone Parliament in July 2021 will finally be activated to construct a state-of-the-art fish harbor at Black Johnson.
Construction is scheduled to commence in September 2025, Dugba announced. She credited the revival of the project to sustained diplomatic engagement with the Chinese Embassy, which helped secure the original terms despite earlier delays and funding uncertainties.
While a specific date for the start of exports has not yet been disclosed, Dugba stressed that the initiative holds significant promise for Sierra Leone’s economy, particularly in job creation for young people and coastal communities in the Western Area Peninsula.
As part of the broader strategy, the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources, in partnership with the Chinese Embassy, will launch an Export Certification Portal on Friday, July 11, 2025, the digital platform will allow licensed fishermen and women to export fish to China at zero tariff, a move the minister described as transformative for improving market access and increasing foreign exchange earnings.
The portal will not only facilitate trade but also ensure compliance with international quality standards, empowering our fishing communities to become active participants in the global supply chain, she added.
The Black Johnson Fish Harbour, once completed, is expected to include a breakwater, cold storage facilities, a processing plant, and infrastructure for sustainable marine operations marking a new chapter in Sierra Leone’s fisheries sector and export potential.
Copyright –Published in Expo Times News on Friday,11th July, 2025 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)
