By Sallieu S. Kanu
State House, Freetown – Monday, 13 October 2025: Sierra Leone’s President Dr. Julius Maada Bio has welcomed the Secretary-General of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), His Excellency Wamkele Mene, to Sierra Leone for the official launch of the country’s AfCFTA Readiness Assessment Report and the Updated National Trade Strategy (2024–2030).
The high-level visit marks a significant milestone in Sierra Leone’s trade and economic transformation agenda, positioning the country as the first in Africa to complete and gazette its national schedule of commitments on trade in goods under the AfCFTA framework.
Introducing the delegation, Minister of Trade and Industry Ibrahim Alpha Sesay praised President Bio’s leadership in advancing regional integration and economic reform. He emphasized Sierra Leone’s commitment to the AfCFTA’s “From Policy to Practice” agenda, which prioritizes youth and women’s empowerment, regional value chain development, and private sector growth.
Minister Sesay noted that the Readiness Assessment Report and updated trade strategy will deepen collaboration with the AfCFTA Secretariat, support Sierra Leone’s participation in the Guided Trade Initiative (GTI), and raise awareness among local businesses about cross-border trade opportunities.
In his remarks, Secretary-General Mene lauded Sierra Leone’s progress as “a model of readiness and reform,” citing the country’s disciplined policy coordination and integration of AfCFTA principles into its Medium-Term National Development Plan (2024–2030) and National Industrial Policy (2025–2035). He stressed that the AfCFTA is a transformative platform aimed at shifting African economies from raw material exporters to producers of value-added goods.
Mene also highlighted that 49 African Union member states have ratified the AfCFTA Agreement, with 24 already trading under the GTI. He underscored the importance of sustained political will and private sector engagement to unlock the full potential of Africa’s $3.4 trillion single market.
President Bio reaffirmed Sierra Leone’s unwavering commitment to the AfCFTA, describing trade integration as “the pathway to sustainable growth, jobs, and shared prosperity.” He acknowledged the country’s ongoing reforms in customs modernization, MSME development, and infrastructure as key indicators of readiness to trade under the AfCFTA.
“Trade within Africa is the future,” President Bio declared. “With collective effort, we can create one of the world’s most dynamic economic blocs.”
He emphasized that the government is investing in education, technology, and skills development to prepare young people for the opportunities presented by intra-African trade. He also pointed to the alignment of AfCFTA priorities with his administration’s Big Five Game Changers: Feed Salone, Human Capital Development, Youth Employment, Public Service Reform, and Technology and Infrastructure for Economic Growth.
Calling on local entrepreneurs, SMEs, and investors, President Bio urged the private sector to seize emerging opportunities in manufacturing, agro-processing, mining-based industrialization, and digital trade. He also recognized the AfCFTA’s role in fostering growth in banking, insurance, logistics, and creative industries.
“Let us open the corridors for private sector participation. Let us convert opportunity into action and potential into prosperity,” he concluded.
The President commended Minister Sesay and his team for their pioneering work in completing the AfCFTA Readiness Assessment Report, which provides a comprehensive evaluation of Sierra Leone’s preparedness to engage in continental trade and identifies areas for targeted intervention.
The visit and launch event reaffirm Sierra Leone’s leadership in regional trade integration and its commitment to inclusive economic development under President Bio’s administration.