Vice President Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh met with members of the Chamber of Commerce, Industry, and Agriculture at his Tower Hill office to discuss ways to revitalise and enhance the organisation’s role in promoting economic growth in Sierra Leone.
During the meeting, the vice president emphasised the Chamber’s main functions, including safeguarding business interests, facilitating the exchange of business experiences, and maintaining relationships with government entities, civil society, and local media. He also stressed the importance of the Chamber’s role in organizing trade shows and events.
Furthermore, Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh expressed concern about the Chamber’s limited involvement in discussions related to trade, industry, and commerce in the country over the years and urged the Chamber to take a more active role in driving economic development.
“All developed market economies have strong Chambers of Commerce to get to where they are today. The support Chambers of Commerce provide in these countries should also be provided in Sierra Leone, including debating economic policy proposals, proffering trade and economic policy options and experimenting with member-benefit trade promotion schemes,” the vice president said.
Dr. Jalloh acknowledged internal issues faced by the Chamber and their significance in gaining respect from “third parties” and support from its members. He highlighted that good internal democracy and corporate governance would earn the Chamber the respect it deserves and the cooperation of members.
“The greatest value of Chambers of Commerce in any country is their influence on business and trade policies. I therefore advise you to set up a technical working meeting with the National Investment Board and the Ministry of Trade and Industry. In addition to that, I would encourage your leadership to keep itself abreast of the investment landscape and try to enhance the corporate governance of the Chamber of Commerce,” the vice president said.
The meeting provided an opportunity for the Chamber of Commerce to discuss challenges and potential solutions with the vice president. They discussed various initiatives and strategies to enhance their impact and contribute to the economic growth of Sierra Leone.
Representatives from the Chamber of Commerce expressed their commitment to re-energize the Chamber, ensuring it fulfills its duties. They acknowledged past periods of low energy and inertia but vowed to end such challenges through engagements like the meeting with the vice president. The willingness of the Chamber to overcome internal obstacles and contribute to trade and economic development in Sierra Leone was emphasized by the various speakers.
