Deputy Minister of Mines and Mineral Resources, Umaru Napoleon Koroma will be returning home with high spirits and greater optimism for more direct foreign investment into Sierra Leone’s mining sector.
On the invitation of leading Indian author, mutil-millionaire businessman and investor – Dr Opesh Singh of Opesh Group, the Deputy Mines Minister flew to Jaipur Rajasthan (India) for a three day conference that allows participants to showcase their countries as attractive investment destinations. As Chief Guest Speaker, for the high profile event, the Deputy Minister received a standing ovation after he brilliantly presented Sierra Leone’s untapped mining potentials – underscoring the premium placed on meaningful direct foreign investment by the President Julius Maada Bio administration.
Mr Umaru Napoleon Koroma was invited to the conference after a brief encounter with the Opesh Group Chief Executive who was in the country to engage the Ministry of Mines and Mineral Resources on the country’s investment potentials. At that engagement, the outspoken Deputy Minister had expressed his trade mark views on how mineral – rich African nations can benefit from their resources through value-addition
“I used the opportunity to present Sierra Leone’s untapped potentials in the mining sector and called on Indian investors to take the chance and come and invest…..with the help of our Ministry and the Mineral Agency, I attended the conference to drive our agenda of transforming the mining sector by attracting more investments particularly in the area of value-addition” he said, adding that, gains made in the fight against corruption and human capital development have further solidify the argument that Sierra Leone is now far more suitable for business.
On the sidelines, Umaru Napoleon Koroma held discussions with several businesses and investors who expressed the desire to visit Sierra Leone. Consequently, the first set of investors led by Dr Opesh Singh would be visiting Sierra Leone in November this year.
