Presdient Bio Launches Sierra Leone's Geodata

The President of the Republic of Sierra Leone, His Excellency, Dr. Brigadier (Rtd) Julius Maada Bio, has on the 24th May 2021, at the Freetown International Conference Centre (FICC) Bintumani Hotel in Freetown, launched the geodata and exhibition, showcasing the country’s mineral wealth and potentials, promoting investment and a stabilizing economic future. The geodata obtained was from the Geophysical Survey that was done in 2019, with support from the World Bank.

In his keynote address, President Bio said that: “I am not here to do a symbolic launch and walk away to my office. I am here to speak to friends, partners, and potential investors present and not present. I am here to share with you what we have done about the mining sector over the last three years.”

The President also stressed that he was at the event to listen very keenly to people’s thoughts, ideas, and experiences.

He assured all parties that his government will create even more opportunities to sit down and talk; to think together; to cooperate; to reach consensus; and to work together to further develop the extractive sector and make it even more viable for investors and their shareholders, the Government, communities, and the country as a whole.

“As I have always said, I want that relationship to be built on mutual trust with all parties being transparent, patient, and clear about pursuing a win-win outcome,” he concluded.

The Sierra Leone Investment and Export Promotion Agency (SLIEPA) was an integral player in the launching, as it embarked on its investment promotion mandate during the geodata exhibition. At the agency’s booth, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of SLIEPA, Mr. Sheku Lexmond Koroma, welcomed President Bio and presented to him, promotional materials including sector profiles containing the investment and export opportunities found in Sierra Leone. The presentation delighted the President and he therefore encouraged SLIEPA to continue doing the good as there will be more support to improve the investment trajectory of the country.

This survey unearthed the mineral potentials of Sierra Leone in terms of location and quantity. It serves as a guide for interested investors in the sector. It sanitizes the mining sector and makes it attractive for investment in a bid to realise the aspiration and vision of President Bio in transforming the sector for national good and citizens’ benefit.