U.S. Ambassador to Sierra Leone, Bryan Hunt, hosted a business luncheon at his South Ridge residence on Friday, September 13, with Sierra Leone’s Minister of Trade and Industry, Alpah Ibrahim Sesay, as the guest of honor.

The luncheon brought together American businesses operating in Sierra Leone to discuss key issues impacting the business environment.

During the engagement, business executives voiced concerns over challenges in port operations, particularly delays in clearing goods. They also highlighted high bank interest rates, lack of clear communication channels on investment opportunities, and an unpredictable tax regime as obstacles to doing business in the country.

In response, Minister Sesay thanked the participants for their candid input and outlined the government’s efforts to address these issues. He emphasized the ongoing development of a Single Window Port Operations system aimed at streamlining port processes. Sesay also spoke about government support for micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), through financial and non-financial assistance to make them more competitive for export markets.

Additionally, Sesay detailed various government incentive schemes, including tax breaks and holidays, aimed at boosting manufacturing. He urged the private sector to collaborate with the government, emphasizing that businesses should serve as engines of growth. He also called on companies to leverage preferential trade agreements like the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), which allows duty- and quota-free exports to the U.S. market. Sesay requested U.S. support in developing a new AGOA Utilization Plan to maximize its benefits.

Ambassador Hunt expressed his support for the government’s initiatives, particularly the establishment of a Single Window Port Operations system, citing its success in Mozambique in improving efficiency and increasing revenue. He pledged to work closely with the American Chamber of Commerce and Sierra Leone’s Ministry of Trade to address the challenges raised.

Business leaders echoed the ambassador’s sentiments and praised the minister’s openness, urging him to continue his proactive engagement with the private sector.