Freetown, Sierra Leone , 16 October 2026 (ECA) - The Government of Sierra Leone, through the Ministry of Trade and Industry, officially launched the Sierra Leone Step-by-Step Guide for Trading Goods under the AfCFTA, together with an accompanying Trade Information Portal.
Held on 16 October 2026 at the Lagoonda Conference Centre in Freetown under the theme, “Bridging the Trade Information Gap: Empowering Sierra Leone Businesses to Trade Effectively under the AfCFTA”, the launch brought together representatives of both the public and private sectors and trade-support institutions.
The Step-by-Step Guide, which was developed by the Ministry of Trade and Industry, with technical support from ECA and financial support from the Government of Japan is designed to equip businesses and traders with practical, accessible and easy-to-understand information on the requirements and procedures for exporting and importing goods under the AfCFTA framework. By simplifying access to essential trade information, the tool is expected to facilitate the effective participation of Sierra Leone’s private sector in intra-African trade, with particular attention to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and women- and youth-owned businesses. Its content provided the basis for the accompanying Trade Information Portal.
In her opening statement, Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry Hon. Mrs. Fatmata Kamara highlighted the benefits of the Guide and Portal for businesses in Sierra Leone. These include greater clarity and certainty regarding procedures, documentation, responsible agencies and costs; fewer delays and less confusion; stronger support for small and medium-sized enterprises, particularly women- and youth-owned businesses; and common training resources for business associations and trade-support institutions. She also emphasized the importance of private-sector feedback in future revision of the tools and shaping trade reforms in Sierra Leone.
Speaking during the opening session of the launch, Silvia Vides, Head of Office ad interim of the United Nations Resident Coordinator’s Office in Sierra Leone, described the launch as an important milestone in the country’s efforts to translate the opportunities created by the AfCFTA into concrete benefits for Sierra Leone’s businesses. She emphasized the role of the Guide and Trade Information Portal in making essential information more accessible thereby helping businesses navigate trade requirements with greater confidence.
Mr. Oluniyi Robbin-Coker, President of the Sierra Leone Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture, welcomed the Guide and Portal, highlighting their importance as practical tools for Sierra Leone’s private sector. He called for structured cooperation between the Ministry of Trade and Industry and the Chamber to raise awareness of and disseminate the tools, with particular focus on SMEs and women- and youth-owned businesses, which play a significant role in Sierra Leone’s economy.
Discussions underscored the importance of wider dissemination of the Guide and Portal beyond Freetown, accompanied by targeted awareness raising, training and stronger collaboration between public institutions and the private sector. Attention will now therefore shift to ensuring that businesses can use the tools effectively to meaningfully participate in intra-Africa trade.
Issued by:
Communications Section
Economic Commission for Africa
PO Box 3001
Addis Ababa
Ethiopia
Tel: +251 11 551 5826
E-mail: eca-info@un.org