NEWS World Bank Provides US$ 20 Million For Employment in Sierra Leone Posted by Mohamed Konneh on Jan 31, 2010, 11:55

The President of the World Bank has said in Freetown that the World Bank has provided additional support of twenty million dollars for employment programme for young people. Creating jobs for young people is very much important and that the bank is looking as to how this fund can be deployed to help in that area. Sierra Leone has come out from a difficult period and with support from other donors the country will be able to move forward.

The World Bank president Robert Zoellick was speaking at a joint press conference held at state house in Freetown on Wednesday. Mr. Zoellick is in sierra Leone at the start of an eight-day, three-nation Africa tour to help focus the attention of African governments, development partners and private investors on seizing the opportunity for renewed momentum in economic growth and overcoming poverty.

The president has come to Africa especially sierra Leone to learn about how its people have coped with the global economic crisis and to see how the world Bank group  can work with them to improve prospects for economic growth and expanded opportunity. In Sierra Leone the World Bank president visited the Bumbuna hydro electric project, the fisheries project in Tombo outside Freetown, the donor community and members of the government.

The World Bank president further noted that he is in the country to learn and to see how the bank can help Sierra Leone in its development strides.He thanked President Koroma and the people of Sierra Leone for their hospitality. Mr. Zoelick noted that he was very please after visiting the dam at Bumbuna noting that energy is very much important for economic growth. The president of Sierra Leone and his colleagues continues to emphasizes the criticality of the private sector  adding that they have travel  with private sector team that are involved in small scale enterprises.

Welcoming the World Bank President, the President of Sierra Leone Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma welcome the Mr. Zoellick and his group, noting that Sierra Leone has had a wonderful relationship with the World Bank. The visit of the Mr. Zoellick President Koroma said is an indication of the level of corporation and relationship enjoyed with the bank. The president has visited some of the project sites supported by the World Bank adding that the World Bank is here to learn more from the people of Sierra Leone. The World Bank has support the country in the area of decentralization programme, the energy agriculture and most recently the bank supported Sierra Leone when we were going through the food crisis President Koroma said.Mr. Zoellick will at the end of the day have a clear picture of the country President Koroma noted.

The government agenda for change he said has been presented to the World Bank which is the engine of growth for the country.

The World Bank president yesterday departs for Ethiopia after visiting various projects, meeting with civil society, the press, the government and people of Sierra Leone.