China Pledges Support for West Africa Investment Summit, 50 Business Leaders Expected
Deborah Sorie China has pledged financial support for the 2026 West Africa Integration and Investment Summit (WAIIS2026), reinforcing its interest in strengthening trade and investment partnerships with Sierra Leone and the wider West African region.
The Chinese Embassy in Freetown made the contribution ahead of the summit, scheduled to take place from 13 to 18 November 2026 in Freetown.
The summit is being coordinated by the Presidential Initiative on Climate Change, Renewable Energy and Food Security (PI-CREF) on behalf of the Government of Sierra Leone, with the aim of attracting international investors, development finance institutions and private-sector partners to explore opportunities across West Africa.
A major highlight will be the China–West Africa Investment Forum, scheduled for 13 November at the Bintumani Hotel in Freetown. The forum is expected to bring together Chinese business leaders, investors, financial institutions, government representatives and Sierra Leonean businesses to explore commercial partnerships and investment opportunities.
Discussions will focus on trade, infrastructure, industrialisation, technology transfer and regional value chains, with particular attention to opportunities for Chinese companies in Sierra Leone and the wider West African market.
Speaking at the contribution ceremony, Wang Peng, Counsellor for Economic and Commercial Affairs at the Chinese Embassy in Freetown, said more than 50 Chinese business leaders were expected to participate in the summit and its pre-summit activities.
He also highlighted China’s planned agricultural extension programme in Bo District and its commitment to the restoration of the Dodo Hydroelectric Dam in Kenema District.
Chairman of PI-CREF and Special Envoy for WAIIS2026, Dr Kandeh K. Yumkella, welcomed the Chinese Embassy’s contribution, describing it as an important step towards delivering the summit and mobilising investment for economic transformation across West Africa.
Yumkella said PI-CREF, acting under the mandate of President Julius Maada Bio, was committed to ensuring that the summit generated tangible economic benefits for Sierra Leone and the wider region.
The Chinese contribution is expected to strengthen preparations for the summit and provide further momentum for efforts to translate the longstanding diplomatic relationship between Sierra Leone and China into increased trade, investment and private-sector partnerships.