Africa-Press – Sierra-Leone. Sierra Leone is working to attract international investors, with Türkiye emerging as one of its key partners in efforts to develop the country’s rich mineral resources.
At a recent investment forum held in Istanbul on May 30, hosted by the Sierra Leone Embassy in Ankara, government officials presented the country’s mineral potential to an audience of investors from Türkiye, Europe, Africa, and Asia.
Four of the world’s 20 largest diamonds have been discovered in Sierra Leone. The country also holds large deposits of gold, rutile, bauxite and iron ore. Despite this, it remains among the poorest countries in the world, which the government is hoping to change by encouraging long-term investment across major sectors.
Speaking at the forum, Sierra Leone’s Ambassador to Türkiye, Timothy Musa Kabba, described the country as a functioning democracy that offers a safe and secure environment for foreign investors.
The event focused on building trade relationships and encouraging investments in infrastructure, mining and other areas. It also highlighted recent reforms introduced by the government to improve the business environment.
These reforms include a new mining law passed in 2022 to replace the 2009 version. The new law brought in stronger rules for exploration, operations and the trading of minerals. Sierra Leone has also joined international efforts to improve transparency in the mining sector.
Currently, the mining industry makes up about seven percent of the country’s GDP and accounts for roughly 80 percent of export revenue, based on recent data.
Beyond mining, Turkish companies are becoming more active in construction and manufacturing. Turkish Airlines now flies to Freetown three times a week. Türkiye also supports development in the country through scholarships and aid programs.
Officials at the conference acknowledged that Sierra Leone still faces challenges in energy, infrastructure and services. However, they pointed to progress, especially in electricity access. The country’s generation capacity has nearly doubled in the past five years.
With gold production expected to start at the Baomahun site and reforms aiming to improve oversight, Sierra Leone is looking to form new partnerships. Türkiye is now playing an increasingly important role in that journey.
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