On June 18, 2024, Michael Kolie from the WTO Trade Policy Review Mechanism (TPRM) paid a courtesy visit to Hon. Alpha Ibrahim Sesay, Minister of Trade and Industry. The meeting focused on the significance of the WTO’s Trade Policy Review Mechanism for Sierra Leone.
The Hon. Minister, Deputy Minister, senior officials from the Ministry of Trade and Industry, and the WTO expert attended the meeting. Michael Kolie highlighted the TPRM’s role in promoting transparency, accountability, and stability in global trade. He provided a detailed overview of the TPRM, emphasizing its goals of enhancing transparency of trade policies, ensuring compliance with international agreements, and fostering dialogue among member states.
Minister Sesay welcomed the WTO representative, noting the TPRM’s importance for aligning Sierra Leone’s trade policies with international standards. He highlighted that the review would offer valuable insights and recommendations to boost economic growth and attract foreign investments under President Julius Maada Bio’s leadership.
The Minister expressed optimism about the TPRM’s benefits, underscoring the government’s commitment to improving trade policies. He anticipated that the review’s outcomes would significantly contribute to Sierra Leone’s economic development.
This visit marks a crucial step in Sierra Leone’s efforts to refine its trade policies and practices, with the last WTO review conducted in 2017. Through active participation in the TPRM, Sierra Leone aims to foster a more open, stable, and competitive trade environment for the benefit of its citizens.
