Piedmont Regional minister of Enterprise, Energy, Innovation, and Research Giuseppina De Santis has had talks with Sierra Leone’s Minister of Trade and Industry, Mr. Peter Bayuku Konteh on new trade and investments ties between the two regions.
The talks, held at De Santis Piazza office in Torino in early April was part of Konteh and his delegations visit to engage both business and political leaders in Italy.
Those part of the delegation included Ambassador Baryoh, the Consul General of Sierra Leone in Northern Italy, Mr. Alessandro Rosso, the Head of Chancery of the Sierra Leone embassy in Germany, Mr. David Gbenjeh, and the Acting Director of Investment Promotion, SLIEPA, Mr. Victor Bangura.
In the bilateral talks, Konteh explained that he led the team to Italy to introduce and promote key investment and trade opportunities in key economic sectors to Italian businesses, and Torino in particular.
He said, under the New Direction of His Excellency, Sierra Lione President Julius Maada Bio, the country is interested in working closely with private sector investors as partners to diversify the economy and create wealth for its people.
He furthered stated that the West African country can be a better place to do business and that its untapped investment potentials speak to the economic development drive like that of Italy.
“Central to our development agenda is our flagship program: Human Capital Development, and we expect the private sector to contribute to skills development to achieve this agenda,” Konteh said.
He reiterated on the fiscal regimes put in place for businesses and that the Sierra Leone Investment and Export Promotion Agency (SLIEPA) can provide all the necessary facilitation services to investors to speedily actualize their investment because the country believes in trade and not aid.
SLIEPA Acting Director of Investment Promotion, Mr. Victor Bangura said the Government’s aggressive business reforms are geared towards creating the conducive environment for investment.
Further, he noted that the agency has dedicated its resources to provide investor aftercare as a key priority of the Agency.
Among others, he highlighted Key on-going reforms in the country such as the quicker time is taken and lesser cost paid for starting a business, protecting minority investors, the implementation of the National Land Policy to improve land acquisition processes for investors and harmonizing the fiscal regimes.
Sierra Leone’s Ambassador to Germany (also accredited to Italy and Austria), Dr. M’Baimba Lamin Baryoh underscored the diplomatic relationship between Sierra Leone and Italy and said his focus during his tour of duty is to deepen that relationship through trade and investment.
As part of that commitment, De Santis assigned Giulia Marcon – Manager for International Affairs sector as the focal person to liaise with the delegation to plan a visit to Sierra Leone with some Italian businesses later this year.
Responding to the delegation, De Santis said she was impressed with the level of development since the new government came into place.
” I am optimistic that both countries can do business together,” she said.
As part of that commitment, De Santis assigned Giulia Marcon – Manager for International Affairs sector as the focal person to liaise with the delegation to plan a visit to Sierra Leone with some Italian businesses later this year.
The delegation further engaged Dario Gallina, President Unione Industriale of Torino and the Mayor of the City of Torino, Her Worship, Chiara Appendino, where they discussed cooperation with a network of over 2,500 businesses.
This, besides the need to invest in Sierra Leone and also an exchange program with the Sierra Leone medical school; all showing their willingness to closely work with the government and the people of Sierra Leone on trade and investment.
