Trade minister explains state of business in parliament
Freetown, July (SLENA) The Minister of Trade and Industry, Alhaji Usman Boie Kamara (Usu Boie) has said in parliament that his ministry has so far made progress in the area of creating a thriving business environment and thanked parliament for inviting him to explain the necessary checks and balances that he has put in place. (Photo: Hon Alhaji Usman Boie Kamara)
He spoke about the local content policy which he said has been issued out in the form of gazette to popularize it throughout the country.
Explaining further, the minister said one aspect of the content is to ensure that any company that wants to do business in Sierra Leone will give preference to Sierra Leoneans and make sure that the services and goods the company needs will be provided.
“But to achieve this we need to upgrade ourselves as a country and people with the right techniques and skills so that when a company comes and wants to employ expatriates they will recommend Sierra Leoneans who have the required skills,” he said, adding “ this is to ensure that the company is able to run its business profitably.
“This way the wealth of the nation will be transmitted to its people,” the minister maintained, saying his ministry is assiduously working on the documentation so that the policy will be quickly enacted into law.
Speaking on the state of market centres, the minister said construction is going on at Ferry Junction and Wellington, east end of the capital, adding that there also plans to construct more in some other places in the city.
On the Sewa ground market, Alhaji Usu Boie said that one is under the purview of the Freetown City Council but as a ministry they are working together with the Mayor to speed up the structures.
On Operation WID, the trade minister said the operation did not specify that traders should vacate Abacha Street, but that the operation was launched to address the free flow of traffic in the city, stating that the mayor has engaged the traders at Abacha Street and held discussion with all parties involved to address the issue as there has been a demarcation.
He added that his ministry has never been out to obstruct the operation.
The Chairman of the Trade committee, Hon. Sidi Tunis welcomed the committee’s engagement with the ministry of trade and looked forward to more effort in that direction.
SB/HOP/SLENA
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