Ambassador Baryoh Strengthens Sierra Leone–Italy Partnership in Strategic Visit to Valenza

By Abdulai Braima

His Excellency Ambassador M’baimba Baryoh, Sierra Leone’s Ambassador to the Federal Republic of Germany and accredited countries, has concluded a very successful week-long working visit to the Italian city of Valenza, aimed at exploring new avenues for economic cooperation, education, and technology exchange in line with the development vision of President Dr. Julius Maada Bio.

During his stay, Ambassador Baryoh held high-level engagements with political leaders, business executives, academic institutions, and industrial stakeholders across Valenza and the wider Piedmont region. He was warmly received by Mayor Maurizio Oddone and regional authorities at Valenza City Hall, where discussions focused on collaboration in trade, industry, and vocational training. The mayor highlighted Valenza’s global reputation in goldsmithing and its openness to international partnerships, while expressing enthusiasm for a long-term relationship with Sierra Leone.

One of the most notable achievements of the visit was a proposed formal twinning agreement between Valenza and a major city in Sierra Leone.

This strategic partnership aims to foster long-term cooperation in industrial development, cultural exchange, and targeted trade, while laying the groundwork for future collaboration between governments, businesses, and communities.

A key focus of the visit, which was widely publicised in the Italian press, was on Sierra Leone’s mineral wealth and the government’s policy shift toward value-added production. At Target S.r.l. in Valmadonna, a leading precious metals firm, Ambassador Baryoh discussed prospects for joint ventures, technology transfer, and industrial development. “Sierra Leone is no longer seeking to export raw materials,” he stated. “We are here to import knowledge, machinery, and skills that will help create jobs at home. You have the technology; we have the materials. Together we can work very well.”

The ambassador also toured jewelry-making schools, metal factories, and high-end design workshops, where he expressed interest in building vocational training pathways for young Sierra Leoneans to study and develop craftsmanship skills. He emphasized the importance of hands-on training and access to modern equipment as crucial steps toward sustainable job creation.

In Vercelli, the ambassador visited Mundi Riso, a major rice processing company, and met with leaders of the Ovest Sesia irrigation consortium. With Sierra Leone spending over $200 million annually on rice imports, discussions centered on the need for technological collaboration in irrigation and local rice production. Ovest Sesia expressed interest in sending a technical team to Sierra Leone to assess the feasibility of a tailored irrigation system for double-cropping.

At the University Piemonte Orientale (UPO), Ambassador Baryoh met with the rector and senior faculty to explore partnerships in agriculture, biotechnology, and food systems. The university, which specialises in Agriculture and healthcare systems, expressed interest in student and faculty exchanges, and discussions began around a virtual summit between UPO and Sierra Leonean universities later this year to define joint research and training programs.

Further meetings with business associations such as Ascom and Confartigianato highlighted the potential for private sector collaboration. Ambassador Baryoh outlined Sierra Leone’s investment climate, including its political stability, fiscal incentives, and young workforce. Italian stakeholders expressed strong interest in exploring opportunities in agriculture, mining, tourism, and artisanal training, and agreed to initiate direct contacts with relevant ministries in Sierra Leone.

Throughout the weeklong visit which ended on Saturday 26th July 2025, Ambassador Baryoh underscored Sierra Leone’s readiness for meaningful, mutually beneficial partnerships—not based on extraction, but on shared growth and knowledge. His engagements across northern Italy reaffirmed Sierra Leone’s growing role in global investment diplomacy and its commitment to building capacity at home through strategic alliances abroad.