In his introductory statement during the meeting with Dr. Cesare Veneri, Secretary General of the Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Crafts and Agriculture in Verona, His Excellency, Amb. Baryoh said this is a follow up meeting held with some investors in December 2018, in which, he promised to have the Minister responsible for trade and investment to visit Italy and hold further in-depth discussions with them.

Whilst giving an overview of the policy environment in Sierra Leone, the Minister emphasised on the country’s on-going business reforms to enable investors realise a win-win on their investment and the overall Government’s comittment to see investors as key development partners and great contributors to the country’s national development agenda.

Presenting the investment opportunities to the Chamber, the Acting Director of Investment Promotion at SLIEPA, Victor Bangura said Sierra Leone’s business opportunities are enormous and opened to investors. He said that joint venture partnerships are key components to realising the Government’s national development plan. He said “Sierra Leone is on the move! and it’s time Italian investors tap into the country’s business potentials” and that SLIEPA can provide investor handholding and investor aftercare services.

Minister Konteh, on behalf of His Excellency, President Julius Maada Bio extended invitation to Italian investors through the Chamber to visit Sierra Leone so we can move the relationship to another level.

On his part, Mr. Veneri promised to put together a team of Italian businesses and to work with Sierra Leone’s embassy in Germany and the Government of Sierra Leone, through SLIEPA, to organise an inward investment mission to Sierra Leone soon.