WASHINGTON, September 28, 2021—Today, World Bank Group President David Malpass met with President Julius Maada Bio of the Republic of Sierra Leone.
President Malpass and President Bio discussed Sierra Leone’s reform priorities, including strengthening its fiscal position and boosting economic growth to generate jobs and improve living standards for all Sierra Leoneans.
President Malpass emphasized the importance of improving governance of Sierra Leone’s mining sector to support domestic revenue mobilization and attract new investment. President Malpass and President Bio also discussed the need to improve connectivity through priority investments in road infrastructure, agriculture, and energy.
President Malpass affirmed the World Bank Group’s support to improve Sierra Leone’s debt management and transparency and welcomed the government’s commitments to broaden the disclosure of guarantees and borrowing of state-owned enterprises, and to refrain from non-concessional external financing.
President Malpass and President Bio also discussed the country’s focus on building human capital, promoting girls’ education, and encouraging rapid acquisition and deployment of COVID-19 vaccines.
