Sierra Leone Investment & Export Promotion Agency: Improving Investment and Facilitating Export
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Sierra Leone Investment & Export Promotion AgencySierra Leone Investment & Export Promotion AgencySierra Leone Investment & Export Promotion AgencySierra Leone Investment & Export Promotion Agency
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Starting a Business

    Home Starting a Business

    Recent reforms have led to faster and cheaper ways to start a business

    In Sierra Leone, there has been recent improvement in the efficiency of starting a business. Government authorities drastically cut costs and expedited the process for starting a business by making the use of a lawyer optional and abolishing other registration formalities, including requirements to pay taxes upfront and obtain permission for registration to start a business.

    Once a business has been started, investors must obtain sector-specific business licenses.
    Level playing field for foreigners

    Foreign investors enjoy a level playing field when starting a business. There are no minimum capital requirements and no restrictions on equity; however, foreign investors cannot invest in the following sectors: arms and ammunition, cement block manufacturing, granite and sand stone excavation, manufacturing of certain consumer durable goods, and military, police, and prison guards’ apparel and accoutrements.
    Sector-specific business licenses

    In some sectors—such as mining and fisheries— licenses can be obtained from sector ministries. SLIEPA can facilitate the process for investors.

    For mining, fees vary by activity and citizenship. Investors can find detailed information at www.slmineralresources.org.

    Licensing and Certificate Fees associated with Mining

    Type of licenseFee
    Alluvial diamond exporter license$40,000/year ($25,000/half-year)
    Alluvial diamond exporter agent’s certificate$5,000/year ($3,000/half-year)
    Alluvial diamond dealer license (non-citizen)$5,000/year ($3,000/half-year)
    Gold exporter license$3,000/year
    Gold exporter agent’s certificate$1,000/year
    Gold dealer license (non-citizen$1,000/year
    Gold mining company manager certificate (non-citizen)$167/year

    Ministry of Mineral Resources and SLIEPA

    In fisheries, all vessels must be registered with the Sierra Leone Maritime Administration and fishing licenses obtained from the Ministry of Marine Resources and Fisheries.

    Regulations for the fishing industry require that operators obtain an offshore account in Sierra Leone and employ 45 percent Sierra Leoneans as crew members.

    Vessel Fees associated with Fisheries

    Type of vesselAnnual feeRoyalties per vessel
    Shrimp vessel over 250 tons$60,000$18,000
    Fish trawler over 250 tons$40,000$15,000
    Tuna purse seiner$18,000
    Tuna long liners$12,000
    Small pelagic purse seiner$15,000
    Fish processing ship$20,000
    • For details on the following license fees please click on;
    • NMA http://www.nma.gov.sl
    • NRA http://nra.gov.sl
    • EPA https://epa.gov.sl

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    About SLIEPA

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    Contact Us

    Office
    O.A.U Drive, Tower Hill, Freetown Sierra Leone

    Phone Number
    +232 25 332 863

    Email Adress
    info@sliepa.org

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