Islamic Development Bank Mission Hails Ministry of Information and Communications

The Principal Energy and Infrastructure Specialist of The Islamic Development Bank (IDB) Mustapha Corr and the Energy and ICT Specialist, Shaharyar Jawaid have both commended the Ecowas Wide Area Network (ECOWAN-SL) Project Implementation Unit(PIU) and the Project Management Unit(PMU) respectively for living up to the expectations of the Bank. (Photo: IDB Team)

In a just concluded IDB Mission to Sierra Leone to follow up on the physical implementation of the project and to hold discussions with key institutions like the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development, the ECOWAN PMU and the Contractor, Corr informed the Minister of Information and Communications during a courtesy call that the Bank is pleased with the manner the project is been implemented.

“There are other projects in the region which are very slow, but with the ECOWAN-SL project we are happy that professionalism has prevailed. IDB complements Government’s effort but does not tell them what they should do. Our only advice is that the earlier you implement the project the cheaper for the Bank to pay for the services. We have awarded the Contract to KN Network Services Holdings Ltd, Ireland and we expect you to ensure they speedily hit the ground”.

“The Ecowan- PIU has raised standards and therefore expectations are very high. The onus is now on the Project Management Unit (PMU) to ensure the Contractor delivers”, Shaharyar told the Minister.

“We need implementation plans…key milestones to be assessed on a monthly or quarterly basis after signing of the Contract. The bank is very much particular about the Government of Sierra Leone’s firm commitment to ensure there will be no delay in providing counterpart funding for the implementation of the Project,” he concluded.

IDB Team and MIC

“I feel gratified by the sentiments expressed by both experts from a very important institution like the Islamic Development Bank. This is a clear indication that I have a very good team in the Ministry. A team of committed men and women who are poised to actualize HsHh His Excellency the President’s infrastructure projects under the Agenda for Prosperity.

ICT has now been categorized as a natural resource in the Agenda for Prosperity. Technology is so dynamic that any delay in implementing any project will cost you not only loss of revenue but you will be overshadowed by recent innovative technologies.

As a Ministry we are projected to be the highest contributor to the GDP upon completion of all the ICT Projects by 2014. Therefore we will ensure as a Government to play our own part and ensure there are no hitches in the project implementation” the Minister replied confidently.

The IDB Mission left Freetown for Saudi Arabia last Sunday after paying joint site visits with Engineers from KN Network Service Holdings Ltd and the ECOWAN- PIU.

Ministry of Information and Communications, Freetown

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