By Amin Kef (Ranger)
Sierra Leone participated at the Nordic Trade Fair Matkamessut which is indisputably the largest travel trade event in Northern Europe. According to officials of the Sierra Leone’s Consulate Planning Team Office in Finland, this year’s participation was facilitated by their office in collaboration with the Special Envoy on Trade and Investment Office of the President of Sierra Leone, State House with the aim of marketing, rebranding Sierra Leone as a potential tourist destination and encourage investors to do business in Sierra Leone with the catch phrase, ” Explore Peace Diamond”.
The Protocol Officer ,Keijo Mikkanen, served as a receptionist who welcomed visitors at the Sierra Leone’s stand with peace messages which is key to sustainable development, hence ” PEACE DIAMOND” a simple way of rebranding Sierra Leone.
The Head of the Sierra Leone’s Consulate Planning Team Office in Finland Sorie Obai Kamara thanked the Sierra Leone High Commission in UK , Office of the Special Envoy on Trade and Investment, Ministry of Tourism and Cultural Affairs and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation for their support in making Sierra Leone’s presence felt in this global event that brought the world together in Helsinki, Finland.
He further revealed that a delegation from Sierra Leone was expected to participate at the trade fair as ambassadors of our country but they couldn’t travel to Nigeria to pick their visas from the Finland Embassy in Abuja on time therefore their participation was not possible.
Fatima Usman, the Financial Secretary of the Sierra Leone Consulate Planning Office in Finland, thanked their staff for being vigilant and tireless in promoting and rebranding the image of Sierra Leone in Finland whenever they are called upon regardless of the fact that some of them are non Sierra Leoneans.
In wrapping up, she thanked Sorie Obai Kamara the head of the office in Finland for his unique initiatives and proactive nature in putting his country on the global stage with his own finance, expertise and connection.
Kudos to the delegation that didn’t make it simply because they spent their time and resources with the mind set of promoting their country on the global stage.
