By Amin Kef (Ranger)
The first Sierra Leone/Finland Investment Forum commenced on the 11th October, 2022 and will end today, the 12th October, 2022 at the Cultural Center Caisa, Helsinki.
Organized by the Sierra Leonean Consular Office in Finland,
the Sierra Leone/Finland Investment Forum provided an opportunity to hear about Sierra Leone’s business environment and current business opportunities and to meet Sierra Leonean companies and Government representatives.
Finnpartnership, a development entity, actively participated in the event when it talked about its services and business partnership support grant which offers a support of 85 % for Finnish companies that want to start a business in Sierra Leone.
Inspired by Finland’s Africa strategy, companies and Government representatives from Sierra Leone were given the opportunity to know cooperation opportunities with the Finns, who are particularly interested in commercial cooperation in the following sectors: education, agriculture, technology, industry, services, tourism, housing, construction and real estate business.
Sorie Obai Kamara, the Head of the Sierra Leone’s Consulate Planning Team Office in Finland, in a snap chat ,stated that the just mentioned office decided to organize the first Sierra Leone/ Finland Investment Forum on the 11th and 12th October, 2022 in Helsinki, Finland.
He intimated further that on the 11th October, the event was held at the Caisa Auditorium in Helsinki whereas today, the 12th October, 2022 it is taking place at the European Hall (Eurooppasli) in Helsinki, Finland.
Sorie Obai Kamara also revealed that the conference is supported by the Government of Finland and Sierra Leone including the Finnpartnership adding how there are also auxiliary/participating organizations such as Finn Fund, Finland Chamber of Commerce, and MTK in attendance.
He emphasized that the conference is geared towards channeling Foreign Direct Investments ( FDIs) into Sierra Leone from Finland and Scandinavia Europe further revealing that is why the theme for the Forum is : “The Present Business Climate in Europe, Finland and Sierra Leone” taking into cognizance their unique role in building a resilient trade relationship between Sierra Leone and Finland for job creation, poverty alleviation and the overall economic development trajectory as enshrined in Sierra Leone’s Medium Term National Development Plan tailored by the Government of Sierra Leone.
“Our Consulate Planning Office in Finland is complementing the efforts of our Government in the road map towards achieving sustainable economic development in our beloved country,” Sorie Obai Kamara maintained.
He continued that the Sierra Leone’s Consulate Planning Team Office in Finland, under his leadership, unanimously invited certain Government functionaries to represent the country in Finland among whom were: Dr. Umaru B. Wurie, Special Adviser to the President of Sierra Leone and Ambassador-at-Large, Dr. Abu Bakarr Karim, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Food Security ( Leader of the delegation), Dr. Morie Komba Manyeh, High Commissioner in UK, Yvonne King, Deputy High Commissioner in UK, Emily K. Gogra, Deputy Minister 1 Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education, Bockarie Kalokoh, Deputy Minister 2 Ministry of Finance, Professor Marda Mustapha, Executive Director National Investment Board, Dr. Dauda A. Kuyateh, Director Private Sector Unit Ministry of Finance, Ms. Darlyn Lucy Muloma Brima, representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Sierra Leone among others.
According to Sorie Obai Kamara the Government of Finland, through its Finnpartnership, allocated a whooping sum of money to induce Finnish companies and investors to do business in Sierra Leone with an awesome reward of 85% grant of each company’s total capital intended for investment in Sierra Leone.
From what this medium learnt, apart from the stated conference, Sorie Obai Kamara has worked relentlessly to create some impactful opportunities for his country in Finland which are as follows;
During the visit of the high status delegation to Finland, Sierra Leone will be discussing plans to be an official member of the Finnish Coalition of Ministers of Finance on Climate Actions.
The Deputy 1 Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education has been officially invited to join the Finnish Government School Meal Coalition which will help boost our educational fabric to a greater extent as Finland has the best education system in the world.
There is a greater possibility of a trade treaty between both countries and several closed door meetings are already planned focusing on cementing the long existing diplomatic / bilateral relationship between Sierra Leone and Finland during this very visit of the country’s Government delegation to Finland.
Corruption is so rude in Sierra Leone. The criminals are protected by their police and the courts. They steal from foreign investors and know they can because the case will not even ve investigated nor reach court.