SLPHA ENGAGES CHINESE GROUP ON CARGO TRANSPORTATION INVESTMENT
The leadership of the Sierra Leone Ports and Harbours Authority (SLPHA) has held discussions with representatives of Zhejiang Xiehai Group Co. Ltd., a Chinese shipping and maritime group, on a potential investment in cargo haulage trucks to improve cargo transportation and ease congestion at the Port of Freetown.
The meeting, held on Tuesday, 20 October, 2026, explored opportunities for collaboration between the Authority and the group, particularly in addressing challenges associated with the movement of cargo from the port to inland destinations.
Addressing members of SLPHA management, the Deputy Director General, Madam Judith Boi Kosseh, recalled her earlier engagement with the Xiehai Group in Shanghai, where she presented an overview of the Authority’s mandate, the operations of the Port of Freetown and its contribution to national development. She affirmed the Authority’s readiness to partner with the group in areas where private investment could improve port efficiency, particularly cargo transportation. “We have many challenges at our port and among them is transportation of cargo from the port, for which we will be grateful for your intervention,” Madam Kosseh stated. She explained that, under the landlord port model, various services to port users are provided by private companies and individuals, including cargo haulage operators. However, the condition of some of the available transport vehicles continues to pose operational challenges. “The available transport mechanisms are mostly faulty which also contribute to traffic congestion here at the port, as the trucks breakdown every now and then so bringing reliable transport vehicles here will not only help keep the port decongested but will help the people of Sierra Leone,” she rounded off.
The proposed investment is expected to contribute to more reliable cargo evacuation, minimizedelays associated with truck breakdowns and improve the movement of goods through the port. If realized, the initiative could also benefit importers, exporters, haulage operators and other businesses that depend on the efficient movement of cargo.
Sierra Leone’s Ambassador to the People’s Republic of China, H.E. Dr. Abu Bakarr Karim, who facilitated engagements between the parties, informed SLPHA management that the group had already begun procuring vehicles in anticipation of reaching an agreement with the relevant stakeholders. “They have already started procuring vehicles so that once we reach an agreement with them, we move to action,” the Ambassador disclosed. He described the potential partnershipas a “positive development” that could ease the burden of cargo transportation and help address congestion at the port.
Representatives of Zhejiang Xiehai Group Co. Ltd. expressed their readiness to move forward with the proposed collaboration once an agreement is reached. They explained that their visit to Sierra Leone included sightseeing and fact-finding engagements to familiarize themselves with the country and assess potential areas for partnership with the Port of Freetown.
The visit comes against the backdrop of the group’s existing engagement with Sierra Leone’s maritime sector, including the launch of a direct shipping route between Taizhou Port in China and the Queen Elizabeth II Quay in Freetown in December 2025. The visit equally follows the launch of the Sierra Leone Ocean Shipping Company Limited (SLOSCO) on Monday. The proposed investment in cargo haulage could further expand cooperation into the inland movement of goods.
Following the meeting, the Xiehai delegation, accompanied by a team from SLPHA, toured selected port facilities, including the Inland Container Depot (ICD) at Hastings. The visit provided an opportunity for the delegation to observe aspects of the country’s port and cargo-handling infrastructure as discussions on potential investment opportunities continue.
