On Wednesday, November 19, 2025, Chief Minister Dr David Moinina Sengeh met with Mr Ben Black, Chief Executive Officer of the United States International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), in Washington, D.C., to advance discussions on expanded US private-sector financing for Sierra Leone. The session centred on improving trade and investment ties and aligning new project opportunities with Sierra Leone’s National Development Plan (NDP).
Dr Sengeh stated that since President Julius Maada Bio took office in 2018, the United States Development Finance Corporation has provided $725.5 million in financing and insurance for Sierra Leone projects.
These commitments have aided several initiatives throughout the country, including Miro Forestry in Tonkolili, Nant Energy in the Western Area, upgrades and development at Lungi Airport in Port Loko, and the West Africa Blue Carbon initiative in the Sherbro River region. These commitments have benefited several initiatives across the country, including Miro Forestry in Tonkolili, Nant Energy in the Western Area, upgrades and development at Lungi Airport in Port Loko, and the West Africa Blue Carbon initiative in the Sherbro River region. CEO Ben Black emphasised the longstanding relationship between the United States and Sierra Leone, as well as the importance of strengthening those ties through increased trade and investment.
In addition to reviewing the current portfolio, Dr Sengeh provided the DFC with a detailed investment folder outlining key infrastructure and sector opportunities. The dossier focuses on major projects aimed at accelerating economic growth and improving connectivity throughout Sierra Leone, such as the proposed Lungi Bridge, the development of the Banana Island Port, expansion plans for Marampa Mines and Sierra Rutile, strategic improvements to digital infrastructure and national connectivity, and a variety of critical energy infrastructure investments to increase capacity and reliability.
Dr Sengeh stressed that these investment priorities are based on Sierra Leone’s National Development Plan. Under “Enabler 5,” the government emphasises financing the development agenda and explicitly prioritises attracting foreign direct investment and international collaboration. According to the NDP, a strategic goal in general foreign relations is to promote Sierra Leone’s sociopolitical, economic, and strategic interests in order to ensure quality representation in foreign missions, as well as to increase foreign direct investment and partnership opportunities for Sierra Leone. The specific objectives include but are not limited to the following: 1. Increasing international trade and business investment in food security, energy, tourism, mining, education, technology, and infrastructure by leveraging global partnerships.”
Since 2018, the US government has committed more than $1 billion in FDI to Sierra Leone, with contributions from a variety of agencies, including approximately $700 million from the DFC, $450 million from the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), and additional support from the U.S. Trade and Development Agency, among others. Sierra Leone has also been designated as a priority country by British International Investment, with an estimated $100 million committed or invested.
“President Bio asked me to hold these high-level engagements in Washington, D.C., following our previous diplomatic meetings at the UN earlier this week. “As Chief Minister, I play an important role in assisting President Bio and the entire government in delivering on that vision,” Dr Sengeh said after the meeting.
