As the 30th edition of the Investing in African Mining Indaba gets underway in Cape Town, South Africa, from 5th to 8th February 2024, the Sierra Leone delegation, led by the Deputy Minister of Mines and Mineral Resources, Umaru Napoleon Koroma, is sparing no effort to highlight and showcase the vast mineral potential of the country to investors.
Noting that the Mining Indaba is the foremost place for deal sourcing and corporate matchmaking for the African mining industry, Minister Napoleon explained that they are in Cape Town to take advantage of the most comprehensive gathering for investment, finance, innovation, and transformation, to showcase Sierra Leone’s mineral potentials and support end-to-end value creation in the country’s minerals sector. Ahead of the main event, the Deputy Minister, on 4th February 2024, participated in the prestigious Ministerial Symposium, which brought together C-level mining executives, Ministers, Ambassadors/High Commissioners and Government officials to engage in dialogue and strengthen public-private collaboration for the sustainable development of Africa’s mining sector.
He highlighted Sierra Leone’s mineral potential, with a particular focus on future minerals, while assuring investors of a stable and well-regulated investment climate in the country. He explained the major steps and processes for the acquisition of mineral rights and extended an open invitation to well-meaning investors to do business in the country. As the main event kicks off, the major highlights of Sierra Leone’s participation include an exhibition in the main hall, which guarantees a bigger presence and mass exposure and a Country Showcase slated for 6th February 2024. The custom-designed exhibition stand is useful as an information hub, where interested parties can get information about the country’s minerals sector, and is a central point to showcase the mineral potential of the country.
The country showcase will be a 90-minute long interactive, in-depth discussion, wherein the Deputy Minister and mining companies’ executives will showcase the different experiences and opportunities for the key stakeholders involved in mining processes in Sierra Leone. Participants will benefit from the full view of the country, both in the form of understanding the prevailing policy and regulatory environment, specific projects and investment opportunities and the vision of the Government to tie all the details together.
Meanwhile, the Deputy Minister and the Director General of the National Minerals Agency, Hadji Dabo, are engaged in several bilateral meetings with investors and representatives of mining companies to discuss Sierra Leone’s Mineral Potential; and exchange ideas on how investors, governments, and corporations can come together to improve operational efficiencies; and to identify and build critical partnerships for investment in the country.
