Salone Port To Become Maritime & Logistics Hub
Taizhou, China | 8 December 2025.
In a landmark achievement for Sierra Leone’s maritime sector and overall economic advancement, the Deputy Director General of the Sierra Leone Ports and Harbours Authority (SLPHA), Madam Judith B. Kosseh, together with the Ambassador of the Republic of Sierra Leone to China, H.E. Amb. Abu Bakarr Karim, joined the Management of Xiehai Group to officially launch a groundbreaking direct shipping route between Taizhou Port in China and the Queen Elizabeth II Quay in Freetown, Sierra Leone.
This strategic initiative marks a transformative leap in Sierra Leone’s trade logistics and signals the country’s strengthening role as a maritime and logistics hub in West Africa—particularly for landlocked and geographically disadvantaged nations within the sub-region.
Xiehai Group, a highly reputable Chinese enterprise known for its integrated ship transportation, fleet management, and end-to-end supply chain operations, will operate the new service. Historically, Sierra Leonean importers have endured shipping transit times of no less than 12 weeks for cargo originating from China. With the introduction of this direct route, transit times are now expected to reduce dramatically to five weeks.
This significant improvement will accelerate the availability of essential goods, raw materials, and capital equipment. It will also reduce logistics and inventory costs, enhance supply chain reliability, and ease the operational burden on import-dependent businesses.
The development is a major breakthrough for manufacturers, traders, and entrepreneurs who rely heavily on China-sourced inputs. Faster and more predictable shipping schedules will strengthen business competitiveness, stimulate local production, and support the creation of a more dynamic and resilient Sierra Leonean economy. Additionally, the streamlined logistics corridor aligns squarely with national priorities to improve the ease of doing business—a key pillar of the Government’s Medium-Term National Development Plan and its ambition to establish Sierra Leone as a regional trade and transport leader.
SLPHA’s leadership reiterates its unwavering commitment to fostering an enabling environment for strategic investors and global logistics partners. Through continued port modernization reforms, operational efficiency, and international partnerships—such as this collaboration with Xiehai Group and Taizhou Port—the Authority is positioning Sierra Leone as a model of maritime excellence in the sub-region.
Special recognition is extended to H.E. Ambassador Abu Bakarr Karim, whose visionary diplomacy, persistent engagement, and strategic outreach to Chinese stakeholders were instrumental in turning this ambitious initiative into reality. His leadership highlights the power of bilateral cooperation in driving tangible economic progress.
The launch of the Taizhou–Freetown direct shipping route represents more than a logistical upgrade; it is a powerful symbol of Sierra Leone’s openness to business, its growing integration into global trade systems, and its commitment to leveraging maritime connectivity as a catalyst for sustainable national development.
The business community, government institutions, and the general public have every reason to celebrate this milestone and anticipate the many opportunities it will unlock.
©️SLPHA MEDIA
