World Bank President makes S.Leone first stop on Africa tour

Monday, 25 January 2010

Sierra Leone is the first stop for World Bank president Robert Zoellick three-nation African tour starting Monday, government officials said Friday.

World Bank President, Robert Zoellick, arrives in Sierra Leone today

Zoellick will hold discussions with President Ernest Koroma, cabinet ministers and parliamentarians on the state of the country's economy, a government statement said. It said talks would touch on agriculture, mining and other sectors as well as the impact of the global financial crisis on the economy and the bank's support in improving the government's effectiveness.

A World Bank official in Freetown told AFP Zoellick's visit "will assist the government to focus on identifying development partners and private investors to help push economic growth and reduce poverty."

"We see Sierra Leone as a country which is doing well coming out of a post-conflict situation", the statement said adding that "the Sierra Leone economy has grown at a very high level of 10 percent" since the civil war ended in 2002.

"Sierra Leone is seen as a success story rather than a failure", it added.

Zoellick will also visit the Ivory Coast and Ethiopia.

Sapa - AFP