The President of Sierra Leone Julius Maada Wonie Bio will attend 2020 Investing in African Mining Indaba, taking place in Cape Town from 3-6 February 2020
President Bio was elected as the 5th President of the Republic of Sierra Leone in May 2018 and is popularly referred to as the “Father of Democracy” because of his contribution towards the restoration of democracy and attainment of peace in the country.
Sierra Leone has large reserves of diamonds, iron ore, rutile and bauxite as well as small-scale artisanal mining of gold and diamonds. The country possesses one of the largest rutile reserves in the world. Whilst mining contributes about 20 per cent to the national GDP, it is said to account for around three-quarters of the country’s exports.
Prudent management of natural resources is a stated pillar of the national Agenda for Prosperity, and there is a strong commitment to using the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) as a tool to bring reforms that will attract much-needed investment in Sierra Leone.
As part of their drive to attract investment, Sierra Leone will be exhibiting at Mining Indaba and their delegation will include the minister of mineral resources Foday Rado Yokie who will be presenting a country case study - “The new direction for Sierra Leone’s mining sector” - where he will be reporting on the recently completed airborne geophysical survey and the achievements that the country has made in formalising the artisanal mining sector which has not only benefit local communities, and women in particular, with a source of income but also the economy as a whole.
“We will have a healthier, better educated and highly skilled young population fit for the 21st-century global economy, and that will lead and drive the country's national development. They will be well-equipped to deploy science, technology and innovation which in term will attract investment,” explained President Bio.
The programme content for 2020 is geared towards exploring the major drivers of investment decisions within the African mining market and forging the future direction of the African mining industry. The Ministerial and Government programmed is set to attract some 38 ministers from across the African continent and beyond, cementing Mining Indaba’s reputation as the world’s largest mining investment event.
Following the success of the 25th anniversary, Mining Indaba 2020 is gearing to attract even more junior, mid-tier and major mining companies and even more investors with the aim of facilitating deal-making and investment opportunities. 2020 will also bring industry-leading content including the brand-new General Counsel Forum, Mining 2050, the Intergovernmental Summit, resource nationalism, innovations in technology, Battery Metals Day and the return of the popular Investment Battlefield.
Editor: Musa Dlamini
