The South African High Commissioner to Ghana and Sierra Leone, H.E Lulu Xingwana has on October 10, 2019 visited the Sierra Leone Investment and Export Promotion Agency (SLIEPA) to understand the investment climate of Sierra Leone and to introduce the Transnet Corporate Centre to SLIEPA.
The visit was a follow up of the courtesy call made to SLIEPA by H.E Thapelo Madumane, the South African Deputy High Commissioner to Ghana and Sierra Leone for the interest of establishing trade and investment relationship with the Agency.
In her presentation, H.E Xingwana said they came to Sierra Leone to look at the Country’s available investment opportunities; saying that they have developed interest in reviving the railway and constructing port to improve means of transportation. She introduced Transnet Corporate Centre as an integrated freight transport company owned by the South African Government.
Speaking on behalf of Transnet Corporate Centre, Mr. Wilson Mogoba, Programed Director of the Company, said that their Company was in the Country to have discussions with different authorities on how they will come in to help in the development of Sierra Leone. He said they are in operation in other parts of Africa with the broader objective of making Africa a better place for future generations. Mr. Mogoba reiterated that they want to understand the topography of the land and the business environment. He noted that they have prioritized the reviving of railway and the construction of port; saying that they will develop Bankable Projects and bring South African Companies to invest in Sierra Leone. He concluded that their project would in cooperate Sierra Leoneans and companies to gain technical knowledge at the advantage of the Country upon their exit.
The Chief Executive Officer of the Sierra Leone Investment and Export Promotion Agency (SLIEPA), Mr. Sheku Lexmond Koroma, earlier welcomed the visitors with delight and thanked them for showing interest in Sierra Leone. Going further, he assured them of safe and conducive business environment as the Country is the third safest Country in Africa. He briefed them on investment policies including the desire of the Government in encouraging Foreign Direct Investors to uphold the Local Content Policy as a way of creating jobs and imparting technical expertise into its people thereby complementing the effort of the President, Retired Brigadier Julius Maada Bio towards developing the human capital of the Country.