By Foday Moriba Conteh
In a major development for Sierra Leone’s fisheries sector, China has awarded the International Fish Export Certificate to the West African nation. This milestone was announced on Tuesday September 3, 2024 during the ninth Forum on China-Africa Cooperation Summit, with the Certificate presented by Chinese Ambassador to Sierra Leone, Wang Qing.
The award follows the successful signing of a Protocol on Inspection, Quarantine and Sanitary Requirements for Wild Aquatic Products. This agreement authorizes Sierra Leone to export its fish products directly to China, bypassing previous indirect routes through regional countries and third-party certification.
Sierra Leone’s Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources, Princess Dugba, hailed the Certificate as a pivotal achievement in the China-Africa Cooperation framework. She highlighted the financial benefits of direct exportation, noting that previous constraints had led to substantial revenue losses for the country’s fishery sector.
“This Certificate opens up new avenues for direct trade between our nations and is expected to significantly increase our revenue from the fish industry,” the Minister expressed optimism. She also assured that her Ministry would rigorously uphold all hygiene and sanitary standards required for exporting to China.
The Fisheries Minister extended her gratitude to Ambassador Wang Qing and the Chinese Embassy staff for their support throughout the certification process. She also announced plans to collaborate with the Embassy and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) on a new initiative: the School Fish Farming Project, aimed at further advancing Sierra Leone’s fisheries sector.
The formal presentation of the Protocol was made to Sierra Leone’s Ambassador to China, Abu Bakar Karim, by Ambassador Wang Qing. The agreement was finalized between Sierra Leone’s Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources and China’s General Administration of Customs.
