June 12, 2015 By Hassan Gbassay Koroma
Some 45 investors from the Netherlands, led by the Dutch Minister of Foreign Business, are due in Freetown on 5July, as plans to boost investment in the country’s post-Ebola era intensifies, according to an official at the Sierra Leone Investment and Export Promotion Agency (SLIEPA).
Speaking to newsmen at the weekly presser hosted by the Ministry of Information and Communications, Officer-in-Charge of Directorate and Investment Promotion at SLIEPA, Victor Bangura, said the visit would promote investment in the country as well as boost the country’s economy.
SLIEPA was established in 2004 to facilitate and promote investment incentives to potential investors and to facilitate the registration of business enterprises, business development and training, access to finance, and advocacy, and to promote fair treatment and protection of foreign investors in terms of guarantees against expropriation, free transfer of funds and the amicable settlement of disputes
He disclosed that President Ernest Bai Koroma, during a recent visit to the Netherlands, had met the investors and presented a business proposal to them, as well as held fruitful discussion with the Netherlands Minister of Foreign Business on how Dutch businessmen could help boost the country’s economy through investment.
Bangura informed newsmen that the delegation is expected to be in the country until 8 July to inspect areas of possible investments.
He called on the media for full support during the duration of the visit, noting that should the investors decide to set up businesses in the country, it is all Sierra Leoneans that would benefit, including thousands of youth.
“Even though we are yet to get to the zero case of the Ebola virus, which we hope to soon, it is a good thing that inventors are coming into the country to invest,” he said.