Sierra Leone’s government has signed a $50 million agreement with China National Technical Import & Export Corporation to help fund a SMART Sierra Leone Project.

The agreement with the Chinese trading firm was signed yesterday by Sierra Leone’s Ministry of Communications, Technology and Innovation in Beijing. The signing took place during the Forum on China–Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Summit; a diplomatic event hosted by China to bolster relations with African nations.

According to a statement, the project is part of Sierra Leone’s efforts to foster digital transformation. The project is funded by the Export-Import Bank of China.

Sierra Leone’s president, Julius Maada Bio, said that the objectives of the SMART Sierra Leone Project are to expand internet connectivity to over 400 000 previously unconnected citizens, establish national data centres to manage and protect sovereign data, and enhance security measures around critical state infrastructure in Freetown, the country’s capital city.

The SMART Sierra Leone Project is part of the country’s Big Five Agenda, which aims to provide free quality education, enhance agriculture, and improve healthcare, infrastructure, and job creation for the country's citizens.

Official figures, as part of the country's medium term national development plan, show that internet penetration in the country stood at 21.2% last year, but are projected to rise to at least 50% by 2023. The number of internet users is expected to increase from 1.84 million in 2023, to 2.9 million by 2030.

At the event in Beijing, Sierra Leone’s minister of Communications, Technology and Innovation, Salima Monorma Bah, signed an agreement with Huawei Group to support a Digital Village Project.

The Digital Village Project is aimed to provide farmers and rural community members with access to online information to enhance agricultural yields and expand market opportunities.

Bio said the partnership with China supports Sierra Leone’s commitment to drive digital transformation and intensify innovation.

“The unveiling of the SMART Sierra Leone and Digital Village Projects today not only marks another milestone in our partnership with the People’s Republic of China but also underscores the priority placed on Tech and Infrastructure Development in our Big Five Agenda,” he said.