Sierra Leone signs $50M SMART Project deal with China

To finance the SMART Sierra Leone Project, the government has secured a US$50 million agreement with China National Technical Import & Export Corporation.

Sierra Leone's Ministry of Communication, Technology and Innovation signed the deal during the Forum on China–Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Summit, a diplomatic event hosted by China to bolster relations with African nations.

During the signing ceremony, Sierra Leone President Julius Maada Bio said the three main objectives of the SMART Sierra Leone Project included expanding Internet connectivity to over 400,000 previously unconnected citizens. Secondly, he said, the project would help establish national data centers to manage and protect sovereign data, and finally, the SMART Sierra Leone Project will also enhance security measures around critical state infrastructure in Freetown.

The SMART Sierra Leone Project is a key component of the country's Big Five Agenda, which aims to deliver free quality education, enhance agriculture, create jobs, and improve healthcare and infrastructure.

Sierra Leone partners with Huawei

During the signing ceremony, Sierra Leone Minister of Communication, Technology and Innovation Salima Monorma Bah, also signed an agreement with Huawei Group to support the Digital Village Project. The Digital Village Project aims to provide farmers and residents access to vital online information to improve agricultural yields and expand market opportunities.

President Bio said these two important partnerships underscored the country's commitment to its digital transformation drive.

Sierra Leone Minister of Communication, Technology and Innovation Salima Monorma Bah with Huawei officials at the signing ceremony. (Source: Sierra Leone Ministry of Communication, Technology and Innovation)

"The unveiling of the SMART Sierra Leone and Digital Village Projects today not only marks another milestone in our partnership with the People's Republic of China but also underscores the priority placed on tech and infrastructure development in our Big Five Agenda," Bio concluded.

Digital transformation deals in Africa

These deals come at a time when other countries have signed digital transformation agreements with international countries and companies.

In June, the African Development Bank (AfDB) and tech firm Intel partnered to equip 3 million Africans and 30,000 government officials with advanced artificial intelligence (AI) skills.

In May, the UK's development finance institution, British International Investment (BII), signed financing agreements to support both Senegal and Tanzania's telecommunication infrastructure plans.

In January 2024, the Government of Gabon secured a $68.5 million loan from the World Bank for the Digital Gabon Project.

In June 2023, the Ugandan government and the World Bank launched the Universal Digital Acceleration Program. This five-year initiative aims to equip refugees with essential digital skills.

— Matshepo Sehloho, Associate Editor, Connecting Africa