Sierra Leone Importers Association President Speaks
The President for the Sierra Leone Importers Association (SLIA), Alhaji Alpha Tanu Jalloh who is also a council member for the Sierra Leone Chambers of Commerce Industry and Agriculture and Chairman, Amalgamated Trade Sector Advocacy has informed press men yesterday in Freetown during an interview that they formed the association to mitigate the too many deaths that were taking place within the sea while traders were travelling by boat from Freetown to Conakry for the purpose of buying and selling. (Photo: SLIA President, Alhaji Alpha Tanu Jalloh)
He entreated that the association is charged with the responsibility to ensure that imported food commodity is always available adding that he was at Dubai, attending the Food Epo Trade Fair when news broken out about flour shortage in Freetown and assured that the issue of scarcity of bread has been a thing of the past as far as the association is concerned.
He described Sierra Leone as an import driven nation and spoke frankly on the need for us as a nation to be able to export our local products and mentioned that the association is apolitical with over two thousand memberships.
The President discussed that they had served both APC and SLPP Governments, which means he said they are serving the interest of the people and not the interest of any political party.
He lauded Government for its timely respond in finding lasting solution to the strike action mounted by bread bakers as a result of the acute problem of bread scarcity in the country.
Mr. Jalloh maintained that the association has no daily dues which means he said, they did it as their own contribution to nation building and bragged their level of patriotism is different to other organizations because he said, they are doing everything by themselves.
He discussed that Mr. Sahid was the second President of the association and he succeeded him in 2004 and recalled that the then Minister of Trade, Dr. Kadie Sesay guided him to establish the Tanu International in China to divert Sierra Leoneans attention from going to Guinea and Liberia to purchase businesses, hence, they are now going directly to either Dubai or China to buy business.
By Abdulai Mento Kamara
Stay with Sierra Express Media, for your trusted place in news!
© 2019, https:. All rights reserved.
