Sierra Leone’s Minister of Transport and Aviation, Alhaji Fanday Turay Esq. Attends 2nd OIC Conference of Transport Ministers

Istanbul, Türkiye - 11 - 12 February 2026, The Minister of Transport and Aviation of the Republic of Sierra Leone, Alhaji Fanday Turay Esq., participated in the Draft Resolution Session of the 2nd Conference of Transport Ministers of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), convened under the theme: “Strengthening Transport Connectivity to Deepen Fraternity Among OIC Member States.”

The high-level conference brought together transport ministers and senior representatives from OIC Member States to deliberate on enhancing cooperation, strengthening multimodal connectivity, and promoting sustainable and efficient transport corridors across member countries. The gathering marked the second ministerial-level transport meeting under the OIC framework, following the inaugural conference held in 1987.

During the plenary and technical sessions, Minister Turay engaged in strategic discussions aimed at advancing transport infrastructure development, improving regional and intercontinental connectivity, and fostering investment opportunities within OIC Member States. In his statement to the conference, the Minister provided a comprehensive overview of the current status of Sierra Leone’s transport and aviation sectors, underscoring ongoing reforms and modernization initiatives being undertaken by the Government.

He highlighted significant improvements in road transport infrastructure designed to enhance both national and regional connectivity, while also emphasizing renewed efforts in aviation development. These include strengthening air transport safety standards, modernizing airport infrastructure, expanding international air connectivity, and implementing institutional reforms to improve governance, regulatory efficiency, and private sector participation across transport sub-sectors.

In this context, Minister Turay reiterated the strategic importance signing the Memorandum of Understanding on strengthening transport connectivity between the Republic of Türkiye and Africa. He described the proposed framework as both timely and strategic, noting that it aligns with Sierra Leone’s broader national development agenda and its commitment to regional integration and global connectivity.

On the margins of the conference, Minister Turay held a bilateral meeting with his Turkish counterpart, H.E. Abdulkadir Uraloğlu, Minister of Transport and Infrastructure of the Republic of Türkiye. Discussions focused on enhancing bilateral cooperation in transport and aviation, infrastructure development, and technical collaboration. Both parties explored avenues for partnership in capacity building, knowledge exchange, and investment facilitation.

The bilateral engagement further underscored the growing diplomatic and economic relations between Sierra Leone and Türkiye. Both Ministers expressed their shared commitment to deepening cooperation and advancing mutually beneficial initiatives that will contribute to sustainable development and strengthened connectivity between their respective regions.The participation of Sierra Leone in the 2nd OIC Conference of Transport Ministers reaffirms the country’s dedication to international cooperation and its proactive role in shaping policies that advance integrated, resilient, and sustainable transport systems among OIC Member States.

For Further Inquiries:
Sierra Leone Embassy, Ankara Türkiye
info@slembassy.gov.tr
Twitter: @TurkeySLE
Facebook: Sierra Leone Embassy Türkiye