The British High Commissioner to Sierra Leone, Josephine Gauld, on Friday, January 21, 2026, said stronger and more impactful investment is critical to sustaining Sierra Leone’s private sector growth, as Invest Salone hosted a high-level investment showcase at the British High Commissioner’s Residence in Freetown.

The event, themed “Building a Coalition for Catalytic Capital: Invest Salone Showcase,” brought together senior government officials, financiers, business leaders, civil society representatives, and development partners to review six years of Invest Salone’s work in mobilising capital, strengthening institutions, and creating jobs across the country.

Opening the showcase, High Commissioner Gauld described the gathering as both a celebration of progress and a call to action. She said Invest Salone, a UK-funded private sector development programme, has helped unlock millions of dollars in investment while supporting policy and institutional reforms that have improved Sierra Leone’s investment climate.

According to Gauld, the programme has delivered measurable results, including support to 247 farms, 150 of them led by women, and assistance to local businesses to successfully pitch to development finance institutions. However, she stressed that the next phase of investment must focus on the quality, coordination, and long-term impact of capital, rather than the volume of funds alone.

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A panel discussion during the event examined how catalytic capital can be applied in practice to unlock sustainable private sector growth. Abass Kargbo of the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development said better policy alignment is essential as global development assistance declines. He called for stronger coherence between national development plans, government budgets, and donor-supported programmes.

From the investment community, Mariama Khadija of the Redsalt Angel Investment Network emphasised the role of patient capital in supporting entrepreneurs. She said investors must allow businesses time to build capacity and become attractive to follow-on investors.

Shola Taylor-Pearce, Executive Secretary of the Sierra Leone Association of Commercial Banks, described catalytic capital as flexible finance that is willing to take proportionate risks. She added that commercial banks in Sierra Leone have adopted voluntary sustainable finance principles to support responsible investment.

Representing the Vice President, Mohamed Abu Sesay, Director of Public-Private Partnerships at the National Investment Board, said the showcase highlighted the need for Sierra Leone to move from short-term pilot initiatives to permanent systems, particularly as traditional aid flows continue to narrow.

The event ended with an interactive exhibition featuring Invest Salone-supported companies, including So Pure, Jalaks, and Freetown Waste Transformers. Organisers said the companies have collectively raised millions of dollars in investment, expanded their operations, and created hundreds of jobs.

Participants at the showcase said the event reaffirmed the importance of collaboration among government, investors, and development partners in driving long-term private sector development and economic transformation in Sierra Leone.