President Bio on State Visit to the United Arab Emirates

President Bio Departs Sierra Leone for United Arab Emirates for State Visit and Global Education and Skills Forum

Date: 21st March 2019

President Bio Departs Sierra Leone for United Arab Emirates for State Visit and Global Education and Skills Forum

His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio departed Sierra Leone on Wednesday 20th March 2019 for the United Arab Emirates on the invitation of the Government and people of the United Arab Emirates for a state visit and will also participate at the annual Global Education and Skills Forum.

President Bio is expected to arrive in Abu Dhabi on the 21st March 2019 where he is expected to meet with His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces of the United Arab Emirates. On the 22nd March 2019, President Bio is also expected to meet with His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Prime Minister and Ruler of the Emirate of Dubai.

President Bio’s engagements will create the opportunity to strengthening economic and technical cooperation between Sierra Leone and the United Arab Emirates focusing on Energy, Education, Health, Science and Technology and Agriculture.

Whilst in United Arab Emirates, President Bio will also participate in the Global Education and Skills Forum scheduled for 22nd – 24th March 2019. President Bio is expected to deliver various speeches during the conference.

The theme for this year’s Global Education and Skills Forum is: who is changing the world? President Bio will be delivering a statement on the topic: “President Julius Maada Bio: Changemaker for Sierra Leone”. He will be addressing leaders from both public and private sectors on his ongoing educational reforms in Sierra Leone including the free quality education programme.

The Global Education and Skills Forum is an initiative of the Varkey Foundation which addresses the challenges of education, equity and employment for all. With a unique audience of top leaders from the public, private and social sectors, the forum is an essential platform for collaboration and problem solving.

It can be recalled that President Bio inherited a government that was on the brink of economic collapse and a country with international image battered by corruption, war and natural disasters. Therefore since his election, President Bio has embarked on numerous overseas travels not only to engage development partners, donor and friendly countries to strengthen bilateral relationship but also he has effectively been using his overseas travels to rebrand Sierra Leone and showcasing the country’s investment opportunities.

©Office of the Press Secretary and Presidential Spokesman