UK-Sierra Leone Trade & Investment Forum

On 25th February, DMA was delighted to welcome the Government of Sierra Leone to London, for the UK-Sierra Leone Trade & Investment Forum: the country’s most significant post-Ebola investment outreach. Organised by DMA in partnership with SLIEPA, and led by Hon Samura Kamara, Minister of Foreign Affairs & Cooperation, the Forum provided in-depth knowledge of Sierra Leone, now re-emerging as an attractive investment destination. 

Since 2001, Sierra Leone has enjoyed peaceful government transitions, some of the highest- ranking GDP growth rates in the world and continues to remain committed to attracting quality international investment into the country.

The UK-Sierra Leone Trade & Investment Forum was an important part of Sierra Leone’s post-Ebola economic recovery plan where Hon Samura Kamara presented his government’s broader economic development to restore and strengthen private sector growth and to encourage investment priorities for key sectors - including extractives, agriculture and infrastructure - to an audience of over 200 senior figures from the international business and investment community.

DMA would also like to thank all those who supported the Forum and helped make it such a success including UN, ECOWAS, ManoRiver Union, FCO and UKTI.

PROGRAMME OF THE DAY

0800-0900: Registration & Refreshments

0900-0920: Welcome
• Dr Saran Kaba, Secretary General, Mano River Union
• Dr David Nabarro, Secretary-General's Special Envoy on Ebola, UN

0920-0930: Opening Remarks
• Hon James Duddridge MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Foreign & Commonwealth Office
0930-0940: Keynote Addresses
• Hon Samura Kamara, Minister of Foreign Affairs & International Cooperation

0940-1100: Session 1 – Economic Outlook & Financial Sector Development
Chair: Guy Warrington, High Commissioner Designate, Foreign & Commonwealth Office
• Hon Patrick Conteh, Minister of Finance & Economic Development
• Raymond Gbekie, Chief Executive, Sierra Leone Investment and Export Promotion Agency (SLIEPA)
• Gavin Williams, Partner, Herbert Smith Freehills
• Dr Gibril Faal, Board Member, AFFORD
• Andrew Cavaghan, Chief Executive, Joule Africa
Q&A Session

1100-1130: Refreshments Break

1130-1245: Session 2 – Investing in Agribusiness
Chair: The Rt Hon The Lord Hain, Former British Cabinet Minister and MP
• Hon Marie Jalloh, Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Food Security & Forestry
• Adrian Simpson, CEO, Tropical Farms
• Rocco Falconer, Director, Carmanor
• Claudio Scotto, President, Africa Felix Juice
• Dr Joseph Bahsoon, Managing Director, Bennimix
Q&A Session

1245-1400: Networking Lunch - sponsored by Azimo

1400-1515: Session 3 –  Investing in Industry & Extractives
Chair: Hon Sir Henry Bellingham MP, Former UK Minister for Africa
• Hon Usman Boie Kamara, Minister of Trade & Industry
• Representative, National Minerals Agency
• Karl Smithson, Chief Executive, Stellar Diamonds
• Colin Harris, Senior Technical Advisor, AMR Gold
• Clive Dawson, Chairman, British Chamber of Commerce Sierra Leone
Q&A Session

1515-1530: Closing Remarks
• Atam Sandhu, Chief Executive, DMA
• HE Edward Turay, Sierra Leone High Commissioner to the UK
• Hon Samura Kamara, Minister of Foreign Affairs & International Cooperation

1530-1700: Gala Drinks Reception - Sponsored by INTL FCStone