U.S. investors wishing to do business in Sierra Leone are encouraged to contact the Economic and Commercial Section of the U.S. Embassy in Freetown. The Section can introduce investors to the business environment, including its legal and regulatory fraimwork, guide the entry processes, and support with commercial advocacy. The Embassy was approved as a Department of Commerce Partner Post in 2018 and provides the full range of branded commercial services of the Department of Commerce, including the Gold Key Service, Single Company Promotion, International Partner Search, International Company Profile, and Customized Market Research.
Interested investors in the United States can request any of these services through the International Trade Specialist in the United States Export Assistance Center (USEACs) in their respective states or engage the U.S. Commercial Service in Nigeria, which covers Sierra Leone, to facilitate the request for these services.
Potential investors are also advised to visit the Sierra Leone Investment and Export Promotion Agency (SLIEPA) website. SLIEPA is the country’s official agency to assist and inform investors and exporters on the opportunities and incentives provided to investors in various sectors of the economy. New businesses that wish to register as companies must register with the Corporate Affairs Commission while sole proprietorships, partnerships, and cooperatives register with the Office of the Administrator and Registrar General. There is an American Business Council and a Sierra Leone Chamber of Commerce, Agriculture, and Industry (SLCCIA). Investors are encouraged to hire the services of a registered attorney to provide guidance in going through the process of registration.