Invest Sierra Leone, the only annual forum dedicated to encouraging investment into the country, returns on 5 May 2016, according to a statement from the communications person, Memuna Forna.
Endorsed by the Sierra Leone Investment and Export Promotion Agency (SLIEPA), the forum is a not-for-profit collaboration between Freetown Insight magazine - Sierra Leone’s only business and investment journal - and leading global law firm - Herbert Smith Freehills LLP.
“It follows on from last year's successful inaugural event - Post Ebola economic renaissance in Sierra Leone and the role of the private sector - which was held in the House of Commons. It brings together leaders from Sierra Leonean business, industry, investment, finance, governance and development policy to share insights and identify innovative approaches to investment in Sierra Leone” the statement said.
The forum is organised in a way that gives interested investors the opportunity to discussion in detail with government ministers, financiers and the country’s most successful business and investment pioneers.
This year’s forum will be chaired, once again, by the Rt Hon David Lammy, an MP for Tottenham and British Labour Party politician. Confirmed panellists would include Dr Samura Kamara, Sierra Leone's Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation; Dr Kaifala Marah, Governor of the Bank of Sierra Leone; Guy Warrington, High Commissioner Sierra Leone Designate; Amara Kuyateh, Deputy Director General of Sierra Leone’s National Social Security and Investment Trust; Paddy Docherty, Chief Executive of Phoenix Africa Development Company; and Tom Cairnes, founder of ManoCap – the Africa focused private investment firm.
Consistently ranked as one of the top legal firms globally, Herbert Smith Freehills has a long-standing relationship with Sierra Leone, having provided over £2 million worth of free legal advice to the Government of Sierra Leone in support of the country's development goals through the firm's award-winning "Fair Deal Sierra Leone" pro bono programme. The programme is the first large scale pro bono facility offered by a law firm in support of one country's development efforts.
Herbert Smith Freehills together with Standard Chartered and Prudential plc, recently produced “Sierra Leone: An investor's guide” which outlines the opportunities the country offers, provides context for potential investors and lists useful resources.
(C) Politico 03/05/16
