His Excellency Ambassador Mohamed Hassan Kai-Samba has on Tuesday 14th July, 2020, presented his Letters of Credence to the President of the Republic of Turkey, His Excellency Receep Tayyip Erdogan, acrediting him as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Sierra Leone to the Republic of Turkey.

Ambassador Kai-Samba conveyed good greetings on behalf of His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio to the President of Turkey. The Ambassador highlighted the determination of the President Bio Led administration to sustain the fruitful bilateral relations that have existed between the two countries over the years, He reiterated

President Bio's commitment to deepening the friendship between Sierra Leone and Turkey through regular contacts at the highest level. He allured his determination to ensure that cordial relations between the two governments will continue to flourish for the mutual benefit of the two countries and its people, "it is the desire of the Government of Sierra Leone to scale up economic relations between the two countries including enhanced cooperation in the areas of trade, energy, health, technology, education among others," Ambassador Kai-Samba reaffirmed.

Ambassador Kai-Samba underscored the remarkable efforts of the Government of Sierra Leone in the following areas which he referred to as the government flagship programmes; education, stringent micro-economic fiscal policy, health, women and girls, and youth empowerment.

In his remarks, President Erdogan expressed his profound delight for the establishment of Embassies in both Ankara and Freetown, this move the President says has further stregthen and consolidated bilaterial ties, enhance cooperation in several areas, as well as leveraging opportunities for trade and investment between the two countries.

The Turkish President stressed the need for the promotion of trade and investment, regular exchange of high level visits for more constructive and consolidated engagement at all levels, President Erdogan informed the Ambassador about the resumption of the Turkish Airline to Sierra Leone in August 2020 and that the Turkish Airline is an invaluable channel in consolidating bilateral ties between Turkey and Several countries around the world. "The Government of Turkey is committed to supporting the developmental strides of the Government of Sierra Leone, in this regard TICA will promptly respond to the request made by the First Lady of the Republic of Sierra Leone concerning her Food Basket Project",* Presidnet Erdogan avowed.

His Excellency Recep Tayyip Erdogan called on Ambassador Kai-Samba to follow up on the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of Turkey and Sierra Leone on higher education, for which he requested for the allocation of land in Sierra Leone for the construction of a higher learning institution.

A suitable land for the construction of the Turkish Chancery and other Diplomatic residneces.
Concluding, Ambassador Mohamed Hassan Kai-Samba expressed, on behalf of the Government and People of Sierra Leone, sincere gratitude and deep appreciation to the

Government and People of Turkey for the unflinching support to Sierra Leone. He noted that the dedication of the Government of His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio is to further consolidate the longstanding cordial relations between Sierra Leone and Turkey. The Ambassador was accompained by the Deputy Ambassador, Head of Chancery and the Translator/Protocol Officer, the ceremony was climaxed by the Presentation of gifts from both ends.