MISSION OVERVIEW
On the 28th and 29th of October, over 25 foreign delegates joined us for a 2-day trade mission in Freetown. With such a large delegation the Sierra Leone Investment and Expert Promotions Agency (SLIEPA) excellently coordinated the program. Following June's hugely successful forum, this mission provided a deeper dive into the countries potential investment sectors and more networking opporunities; a drinks reception at the British High Commissioner's Residence was a highlight for this.
Day 1 began with an investment overview from the Corporate Affairs Comission, Chamber of Commerce and National Investment board. A presentation from Minister of Tourism highlighted the stunning attractions in Sierra Leone, and encouraged the delegation to explore. The afternoon featured a range of meetings with senior officials in Ministries of Mines and Mineral Resrouces, Agriculture and Energy, and Works and Public Assets.
Day 2 reaffirmed Sierra Leone as 'open for buisness' in a statement from the Ministry of Trade and Industry. The day's panels discussed the strengthening of the economy, investment into energy (especially renewables), infrastructure and mining. Lunch was provided by CASSAVA, supporting LunchBoxGift which aims to alleivate food poverty in Freetown. The mission ended with a trip to the Nectar Sierra Leone Bulk Terminal (NSBT) for an excellent presentation on overcoming challenges and future growth potentail of the port, followed by a tour around the site.
Thank you to our sponsors, who enabled us to make this trade mission as positive as the forum in June; Nectar, NSBT, SLCB, INTL FC Stone, Royal Air Maroc, Flash Vehicals and CASSAVA.
PROGRAM
DAY 1 – MONDAY, 28TH OCTOBER
10.00-10.10 Welcome (Radisson Blu)
- Deputy High Comissioner, Agnes Dugba Maculey
- DMA, Simon Tonge
10.10-12.00 Investment Briefing (Radisson Blu)
- SLIEPA: Highlights on the Investment Opportunities in Sierra Leone
- Corporate Affairs Commission: Business Registration and Procedures
- National Investment Board
- Sierra Leone Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture (SLCCIA): Investment Landscape in Sierra Leone – Private Sector perspective
- Ministry of Tourism
12.00-12.15 
Presentation from Guy Wilkes, Nectar Group
12.15-13.30 Lunch Break
14.00-15.00 Ministerial Meeting (Minister of Mines and Mineral Resources)
15.00-16.00 Ministerial Meeting (Minister of Agriculture and Forestry)
16.00-17.00 Ministerial Meeting (Minister of Works and Public Assets)
19.00-21.00 High Commissioner's Reception: Evening Cocktail Reception (High Commissioner's Residence)
DAY 2 – TUESDAY, 29TH OCTOBER
09.00-09.10: Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation – Welcome Address (Radisson Blu)
09.10-09.20: Minister of Trade and Industry - Statement
09.20-09.50: Session 1: Discussion on the Economy and Financial Services (Radisson Blu)
- Ministry of Finance
- Bank of Sierra Leone
09.50-10.05: Presentation from Moses C Sesay, SLCB
10.05-11.10: Session 2: Investing in Energy inc. Renewables (Radisson Blu)
- Ministry of Energy
- Renewable Energy Association of Sierra Leone (REASL)
- Petroleum Directorate – Office of the President
- Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Unit – Office of the President
11.10-12.00: Session 3: Investing in Infrastructure & Mining (Radisson Blu)
- Presidential Infrastructure Initiative
- National Minerals Agency
- National Commission for Privatization
Lunch provided by CASSAVA
14.00: Site Visit: Nectar Sierra Leone Bulk Terminal port
DAY 3 - WEDNESDAY 30th OCTOBER
Visit organised by the Ministry of Tourism
