AYV News, October 7, 2026
Chief Minister Dr. David Moinina Sengeh has highlighted ongoing efforts by the Government to transform Sierra Leone’s business and investment environment through digitalisation, saying a new online platform could reduce business registration from about 24 hours to just a few minutes.
Dr. Sengeh made the disclosure during a visit to the National Investment Board (NIB), where he received updates on the nearly completed One-Stop Digital Business Service Platform.
He said the visit was aimed at providing feedback on the platform and assessing NIB’s progress in improving the efficiency of business and investment services.
The Chief Minister described NIB as an example of the Government’s efforts to make public service delivery more efficient and effective under President Julius Maada Bio’s administration.
According to Dr. Sengeh, NIB brings together several agencies and functions, including the Corporate Affairs Commission, Public Private Partnership Unit, Sierra Leone Investment and Export Promotion Agency, the business registration unit of the Office of the Administrator-General and the NIB Secretariat.
He said the consolidation of these institutions has helped to rationalise staffing and streamline government services.
Dr. Sengeh also commended NIB for incorporating inclusive facilities, including disability-friendly toilets and a child play zone, describing the features as examples of efforts to make public institutions more accessible.
He further noted that NIB is supporting government and private-sector stakeholders in developing bankable projects, while its investment promotion activities overseas have contributed to increased foreign direct investment in Sierra Leone.
The Chief Minister said NIB had also supported major projects, including the MCC project, NANT and the Lungi Bridge.
He disclosed that NIB receives support from international partners including the European Union, United Kingdom, United States, China and ECOWAS, among others.
According to Dr. Sengeh, NIB is working through a joint venture to develop an online business platform expected to be operational by November 2026.
The platform, he said, is expected to enable businesses to register instantaneously, cutting the current registration process from approximately 24 hours to within minutes.
Dr. Sengeh also linked the digital transformation initiative to work undertaken nearly four years ago, when the Directorate of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI) and the Ministry of Trade and Industry signed a Memorandum of Understanding in November 2022 to digitise business service delivery in Sierra Leone.
He noted that he represented DSTI at the time as Chief Innovation Officer, while Dr. Sandy, who now serves as Executive Director of NIB, was then Minister of Trade and Industry.
The Chief Minister said the ongoing development of the digital platform demonstrates the continuity of efforts to modernise government services and improve the environment for businesses and investors in Sierra Leone.
