The World Bank Funded Food System Resilience Program (FSRP) has assisted the Ministry of Trade and Industry in organizing a workshop for the Trade Facilitation Committee (NTFC). This committee consists of key stakeholders from both the public and private sectors. The workshop aimed to discuss ongoing Trade Facilitation initiatives, evaluate progress on the implementation of the Trade Facilitation Agreement and performance of the ECOWAS Trade Liberalization Scheme and strengthen coordination among institutions involved in Cross-border Trade. The event is scheduled for two days, on the 29th and 30th, at the Country Lodge, Freetown. It sought to gather insights from stakeholders on improving the national trade environment, streamlining procedures, and fostering greater collaboration under the NTFC framework.
Mr. Emmanuel Billy Konjoh, the Chief Director of the Ministry of Trade and Industry, expressed his gratitude to the World Bank and the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, through FSRP, for supporting the NTFC in discussing issues that will benefit cross-border traders. He assured stakeholders that achieving this objective would enhance the Feed Salone initiative by improving market access and fostering strategic partnerships, ultimately ensuring better incomes for farmers, and enabling them to produce more.
The FSRP Project Manager Dr Kepifri Lakoh confirmed the project’s commitment to supporting MTI in harmonizing and promoting regional policies aimed at improving trade efficiency. This initiative will strengthen capacity of public officials, bring markets closer to private sector by enabling them to access relevant trade facilitation information to participate in the Feed Salone Program and improve the ease of doing business in Sierra Leone.
