By Sallieu S. Kanu
The National Investment Board (NIB) has presented its Fiscal Year 2027 budget proposal to the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development, and non-state actors, outlining ambitious plans to strengthen investment promotion, improve business facilitation, and boost revenue generation.
The budget presentation, held on September 24, 2026, provided stakeholders with an opportunity to review the Board’s performance and proposed priorities for the 2027 fiscal year.
Opening the session, Deputy Executive Director Fatima Mahawa Sandi said the proposed budget aligns with Sierra Leone’s Medium-Term National Development Plan (MTNDP) 2024-2030 and the Government’s “Big Five Game Changers” agenda.
She emphasized NIB’s commitment to strengthening the regulatory environment, improving compliance, attracting sustainable investments, and enhancing investor aftercare services.
According to her, the Board remains focused on positioning Sierra Leone as a leading investment destination in West Africa through private sector-led growth and strategic reforms.
Among the key initiatives highlighted were the proposed Company and Business Registration Law and the Online Business Registration System (OBRS), which is expected to be launched in November 2026 to streamline business registration and improve the ease of doing business.
Sandi also reaffirmed NIB’s commitment to supporting Public-Private Partnership (PPP) transactions and project development in collaboration with Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).
Presenting the Board’s budget estimates, Director of the PPP Directorate, Mohamed Abu, outlined NIB’s achievements, challenges, and key deliverables for FY2025 and FY2026, as well as its broader progress since 2022.
He said the FY2027 budget is designed to strengthen investment facilitation and export promotion efforts under the National Investment Strategy (NIS), with a focus on ICT infrastructure, staff capacity development, operational expansion, and public engagement.
Abu presented a proposed budget of Le15,562,918 for stakeholders’ consideration.
Chairing the session, Deputy Director of the Budget Bureau at the Ministry of Finance, Dr. Ilara Mahdi, commended NIB for its contributions to job creation, the digitisation of business registration processes, and the strengthening of contract management systems across MDAs.
Following deliberations, stakeholders moved the FY2027 budget proposal for approval, paving the way for the Board to continue advancing reforms aimed at attracting investment, improving the business climate, and supporting economic growth.