Sierra Leone advances regional economic and diplomatic roles

Sierra Leone is advancing its role in West African economic and diplomatic affairs through several key developments. Dr. Edward Hinga Sandy, Executive Director of the National Investment Board, has been re-elected as President of the ECOWAS Trade Promotion Organisation (TPO) Network for the 2026–2027 term.

To bolster its capacity for hosting international events, the country has commissioned the Julius Maada Bio International Conference Centre and the ECOWAS Logistics Depot in Lungi. These facilities supported the recent ECOWAS Mid-Year Summit, which focused on regional integration.

Additionally, President Julius Maada Bio is mobilizing financial leaders for the upcoming West Africa Integration and Investment Summit (WAIIS), scheduled for November 2026. The initiative aims to secure private capital from institutions such as Afreximbank and the Africa Finance Corporation to fund regional infrastructure, energy, and industrialization projects.