Sierra Leone Holds First Defence Industry Cooperation Meeting with Türkiye, 1st April 2022

 

 

 

The Minister of Defence, Brigadier-General (Retired) Kellie Hassan Conteh and the Delegation ended their official visit in Türkiye. Before his closed-door meeting with his counterpart, the Turkish Minister of National Defence, H.E. Hulusi Akar, in Istanbul, the Sierra Leone delegation held the 1st Defence Industry Cooperation meeting with the president of Defence Industries, Professor Ismail Demir, in Ankara.

Turkish Minister of National Defence Hulusi Akar (L), and Sierra Leone's Minister of Defence Brigadier-General (Retired) Kellie Hassan Conteh (C)

 

At the meeting, the heads of the delegations extended their opening speeches and presented their thanks to both sides for organizing such an extraordinary meeting. Both sides also confirmed that they are pleased to see the relations between the two countries have been developing steadily.

The meeting was preceded by Turkish company representatives delivering presentations. Afterwards, the manager of Africa and the Middle East Region at Defense Industries, Mr Ertac Koca, delivered a brief on the Presidency of Defence Industries' role and mission and the broader Turkish Defence Industry Ecosystem.

At the meeting, it was understood that the mobile Hospital solutions for peace support operations, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and anti-UAV systems (which are designed to disrupt and neutralize UAVs engaged in Airborne surveillance or other malicious activities), communication systems, wheeled and track armoured land vehicles and simulations for training purposes emerged as the leading cooperation issues between the two sides. The Sierra Leone delegation expressed its desire to see technology transfer and investment in Sierra Leone from Turkish companies. The Turkish side expressed its willingness to serve the requirements of Sierra Leone.

Brigadier-General Kellie Hassan Conteh, Sierra Leone's Minister of Defence, in his meeting with his counterpart, the Turkish Minister of National Defence, H.E. Hulusi Akar, in Istanbul, expressed a desire for training opportunities in cadets, staff courses, War College, medical doctors and in academia. In his response, Hulusi Akbar confirmed that there is a draft military framework agreement between the two countries which has been forwarded to the Sierra Leone Ministry of Foreign Affairs for signature by the Ministry of Defence. He said once the defence pact is signed, the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces stand a chance to benefit from training opportunities at different levels.

In conclusion of the meeting, H.E. Hulusi Akar referred the Sierra Leone Defence Attaché to Türkiye, Col. Muhammed Musa Hashim, to the Director of the Ministry of National Defence, Major General Goksel KAHYA, to work with him for developments. The delegation returned to Sierra Leone on Saturday, 2 April 2022.

 

For more inquiries:

HAWA GEORGETTE TUCKER

Information Attaché

Sierra Leone Embassy

Ankara Turkey

+905373554899

Email address: htucker@sierraleoneembassy.org.tr