By Fatima Kpaka
Freetown, October 28, 2025 — In a bold pitch to transform Sierra Leone into a regional agri-food powerhouse, President Dr. Julius Maada Bio on Tuesday unveiled a sweeping package of tax incentives and regulatory reforms aimed at attracting international and domestic investment into the country’s underutilized agriculture sector.
Addressing over 65 investors and agribusiness leaders at the inaugural Sierra Leone Agri-Food Investment Summit held at the New Brookfields Hotel in Freetown, President Bio declared agriculture the “heartbeat of Sierra Leone’s economy” and positioned the country as a gateway to feeding over 400 million West African consumers.
“We have 5.4 million hectares of arable land, and less than 20 percent is cultivated. That is not a challenge—it is an opportunity,” President Bio said. “Feed Salone is not just a programme. It is a movement to restore our pride and dignity.”
A New Era of Investment Confidence
The summit marked a turning point in Sierra Leone’s investment narrative, with the President pledging policy consistency, transparent investment laws, and streamlined land access to catalyze growth in key value chains including rice, cassava, poultry, livestock, cocoa, and coffee.
Chief Minister Dr. David Moinina Sengeh revealed that foreign direct investment commitments have surged past US$2 billion under the Bio administration, while interest rates have plummeted from 40% to 15%—a signal of growing macroeconomic stability.
“This is not business as usual,” Dr. Sengeh said. “We are building an economy that rewards productivity and innovation.”
Private Sector Steps Up
Private sector confidence was echoed by Mohamed Sow, Finance Director of PC Holdings Group, who disclosed the company has invested US$150 million in Sierra Leone’s agri-sector over the past seven years. Their portfolio includes onions, maize, palm oil derivatives, and seasoning cubes.
“We are expanding because we believe in the vision and the leadership that is driving it,” Sow said.
Minister of Agriculture Dr. Henry Musa Kpaka emphasized that the summit was not just about capital—it was about connection. “We are linking investors with indigenous farmers to boost productivity and competitiveness,” he said. “Sierra Leone is open for business like never before.”
Governor of the Bank of Sierra Leone, Dr. Ibrahim Stevens, reinforced the strategic role of agriculture in driving inclusive growth and macroeconomic resilience. “With Feed Salone and prudent reforms, we are laying the foundation for long-term prosperity,” he noted.
President Bio closed the summit with a challenge to investors: move from dialogue to delivery.
“Every seed planted is a promise to the farmer that his work is his future,” he said. “Let us feed ourselves. Let us prosper.”
The summit concluded with renewed commitments from both government and private sector leaders to transform Sierra Leone’s agricultural landscape through investment, innovation, and partnership.