The Sierra Leone Investment and Export Promotion Agency (SLIEPA) led a group of Japanese investors to the offices of the Hon. Vice President of the Republic of Sierra Leone, Dr. Juldeh Jalloh on Monday, 17th September 2018. Introducing the Japanese Investors to the Vice President, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of SLIEPA, Mr. Sheku Lexmond Koroma explained that the Investors are in the country to look at various investment opportunities with keen interest in the agribusiness sector. The visit of the investors was facilitated by the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) which is a government related organization that works to promote mutual trade and investment between Japan and the rest of the world in collaboration with SLIEPA. The CEO emphasized that SLIEPA is always ready and willing to facilitate investments into the country, provide hand-holding services, and provide effective aftercare services to the investors.
Welcoming the investors to Sierra Leone on behalf of the Government of Sierra Leone, the Vice President stated that the arrival of the Investors could not have come at a better time than now as the Government is currently reviewing the entire investment landscape in the country ranging from the legal framework for investment, investment incentives, ease of doing business and the setting up of an Investment Board which will be chaired by the President of Sierra Leone. The Vice President expressed his delight in the investors’ choice of investment sector which is agriculture as it is in line with the ‘New Direction’s strategic priorities in reducing our country’s dependence on import of our staple food, creating the required jobs for the citizenry and support small scale industries to develop.
The Investors were accompanied by the Japanese Ambassador to Ghana, who is also accredited to Sierra Leone, Hon. Tsutomu Himeno. In his presentation, he expressed thanks and appreciation to the Vice President for the warm welcome and stated that he was particularly delighted to be part of this visit as this was the first time that he has led a Japanese business delegation of Investors to Sierra Leone. He pointed out that the Government of Japan through JETRO will work closely with SLIEPA and the Government of Sierra Leone to attract investors from Japan to Sierra Leone. The delegation will depart Freetown on Saturday 22nd September after attending the Diaspora Agribusiness Investment forum scheduled for the 18th and 19th September; and site visits facilitated and organised by SLIEPA in Freetown and the Provinces.