Bio: ‘West Africa Must Rise Together’

Speaking at a high-level business dinner in Abuja under the theme “Strengthening Partnerships for Sustainable Growth and Investment in Sierra Leone and West Africa,” President Bio said Sierra Leone is emerging as a stable and competitive investment destination.

He noted that the country’s economy has grown by an average of 4.1% over the past three years, driven by the government’s “Big Five Game Changers”, food security, human capital, youth employment, technology and infrastructure, and public service reform.

President Bio outlined several reforms aimed at improving the business climate, including 24-hour company registration, faster work permit approvals, tax incentives, and digital customs systems that have reduced clearance times by half. He mentioned a 40% rise in foreign direct investment over the last two years.

He described Sierra Leone as a strategic gateway for West African trade, citing its deep-water port in Freetown and access to over 400 million consumers through ECOWAS trade protocols.

Encouraging investors to explore sectors such as agriculture, energy, tourism, infrastructure, and fintech, President Bio assured that the government would ensure investment protection and profitability.

As Chairman of ECOWAS, he reaffirmed his commitment to strengthening regional integration, saying, “The time has come for West Africa to move from potential to performance, from resources to refinement, and from aid to trade.”

President Bio concluded by calling for unity and shared growth: “Let us build the bridges of trade, trust, and triumph so that history will say this was when West Africa began to rise together.”