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President Julius Maada Bio has hosted Chief Executive Officers and General Managers of major mining companies operating in Sierra Leone at State House to mobilise strategic partnerships and support for the upcoming West Africa Integration and Investment Summit (WAIIS) 2026.
The engagement, held at State House in Freetown on Thursday, 23 July 2026, brought together mining sector leaders and senior government officials as the government seeks private sector collaboration ahead of the landmark regional summit scheduled for November.
President Bio described WAIIS 2026 as a key part of Sierra Leone’s transformation agenda, aimed at promoting trust, prosperity, investment and regional economic integration. He thanked mining companies for their continued investment and confidence in Sierra Leone, noting that they are not only operators of mineral resources but important partners in national development.
The President said the summit will provide a platform for governments, investors, financiers and private sector actors across the ECOWAS region to establish partnerships and unlock investment opportunities. He highlighted the planned sector-focused investment sessions that will connect project developers, mining companies, development finance institutions, commercial banks, private equity firms and investors.
President Bio invited mining companies to support WAIIS 2026 as sponsors and strategic partners, stressing that the summit is designed to generate business opportunities, investment commitments and transformative projects that will strengthen Sierra Leone’s position as an investment destination.
He reaffirmed his government’s commitment to creating a favourable investment environment through policy consistency, regulatory transparency, responsible and environmentally sustainable mining practices, improved infrastructure and energy access, as well as stronger local partnerships and workforce development.
Chairman of the Presidential Initiative on Climate Change, Renewable Energy and Food Security, Hon. Dr. Kandeh K. Yumkella, praised President Bio’s leadership in establishing the Julius Maada Bio International Conference Centre, which will host the summit.
Dr. Yumkella outlined the four strategic pillars of WAIIS 2026: Energy, Trade and Industrial Growth; Strategic Minerals and Natural Resource Development; Agribusiness and Food Systems Transformation; and Digital Transformation and Connectivity.
He explained that the summit is expected to produce investment pipelines, analytical reports and outcome documents while creating partnerships between governments and the private sector to accelerate regional integration through bankable projects across ECOWAS.
Representatives of the mining companies expressed their commitment to supporting WAIIS 2026, describing it as an important initiative that will promote investment partnerships and deliver benefits for Sierra Leone, West Africa and the wider African continent.
The event was attended by executives from Leone Rock Metal Group, Sierra Rutile Limited, Fison Resources SL Limited, FG Gold Mining Company, PG Mining SL Limited, Leone Afric Metals Sierra Leone Limited, Minenet Company Limited, CTC Mining and Gold Lion Mining Company, alongside senior government officials.
