On Wednesday, 7^th October, 2025 the Director of Foreign Trade and Industrial Development of the Ministry of Trade and Industry, Mr. Mikai Turay paid a courtesy call to the Director-General of the Sierra Leone Local Content Agency at his office at 21Steward Street in Freetown.

The purpose of this visit was to intimate the Director-General about the Ministry’s  partnership with the Agency on the implementation of Sierra Leones 1^st National Manufacturers Conference and Exhibition to be held at the International Conference Hall on the 29^th-30^th October, 2025.

In his opening statement, Mr. Turay said, this is a Presidential initiative brought to the attention of the Hon. Minister, Alpha Ibrahim Sesay. He said, considering the various complaints received by the President, he called on the Minister to bring these manufacturers together to identify key challenges they are going through and proffer possible recommendations in moving the Manufacturing sector forward for National Economic development as he would be in attendance. These challenges would be aired out by the Manufacturers on the first day and a communique would be prepared on the second day and submitted to the President by the President of the Manufacturers Association on behalf of his team.

The conference would be going alongside the exhibition, which is purely Made in Sierra Leone (MiSL) Exhibition. The story behind Made in Sierra Leone will never be completed without Local Content, he said. This is the reason he has come to meet the DG and team, the pioneers of Local Content to work together in the planning process so that where they have not done well, the Agency will take the lead in guiding the process by reaching out to the correct Local Entrepreneurs, at least 10 of them to showcase their local content products.

Responding, the Director-General- Fodeba Daboh stressed that MTI and LCA are one family referencing the social media notice he saw during his vacation and the many calls he received from people about MTI doing the work of the Agency on Local Content Exhibition. This is a misconception from the public, he said, but stressed the need to work together with the parent Ministry to pull this off, as this activity is purely local content.

The Deputy Communications and Outreach Manager stress the need to use this opportunity to showcase local content and the Communications Manager also requested for any possibility to extend the number of entrepreneurs above 10.

Director- Mikai Turay in his concluding statement promised to reach out to Chief Director and Professional Head of the Ministry and the Minister on the Agency’s concerns and revert to the Director-General on the way forward.

The Sierra Leone Local Content Agency (SLLCA) on Tuesday, September 30^th, 2025 held the third Quarterly Consultative Forum meeting, where it approved the Terms of Reference (ToR) for the three subcommittees which were created in the previous meeting, at the Agency’s Conference Hall in Freetown.

The meeting which was chaired by the Director General of the Agency, Mr. Fodeba Daboh brought together stakeholders from the Ministry of Technical and Higher Education (MTHE), Sierra Leone Immigration Department (SLID), Sierra Leone Union of Technicians (SLUTech), Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEDA), Ministry of Employment and Labour, Ministry of Economic Planning and Development, and National Investment Board (NIB), among others.

The third Consultative Forum quarterly meeting focused on discussing, reviewing, and adopting the Terms of Reference (ToRs) for the Project Pipeline committee, Local Capabilities Mapping committee, and Policy and Regulation Subcommittees, as well as outlining the Way Forward for their work.

In his opening remarks, the Director General of the Agency, Mr. Fodeba Daboh welcomed the forum members particularly those who are just attending the Forum meeting for the very first time.

He explained that Section 66(1) mandates the establishment of the Sierra Leone Local Content Consultative Forum to facilitate information sharing and collaboration on upcoming projects, local capabilities, and relevant policy proposals for Sierra Leonean content development.

He pointed out that the Forum is there to enhance collaboration among MDAs and the private sector, primarily to look into other MDAs when it comes to projects, local capacity development and other related policy proposals, adding that the Forum will help the Agency in the implementation of local content related issues.

He emphasized that local content prioritizes Sierra Leoneans, not just through job creation, but also by generating wealth for locals. He stressed that with many natural resources going offshore, now is the right time to involve indigenous Sierra Leoneans in the mineral sector and prioritize them for contracts.

In his presentation on the ToR for the three subcommittees, Local Content Monitoring Manager of the National Mineral Agency (NMA) doubling as the Chairman of the Sierra Leone Local Content Consultative Forum (SLLCCF), Saa Lawrence Karminty explained that the subcommittees are created because the Agency’s act cut across every sector, noting that this is a huge job and for the Agency to be able to cover all of these sectors, they need these three Project Pipeline committee, Local Capabilities Mapping committee, and Policy and Regulation Subcommittees.

He added that the Project Pipeline subcommittee will identify major projects that will come into the country and see how these contracts will incorporate local content clauses that will create jobs for Sierra Leoneans.

He said that the Local Capabilities Mapping committee will look at the various potentials that the country have, adding that this committee will map out all the relevant skills available in country so that they will be available to take technical jobs in companies.

He explained that the Policy and Regulation Subcommittees will be responsible to review the Agency’s act, identify areas of mismatch with other laws, identify areas of compliances, noting that members of this subcommittee will look at every institution and ensure their compliance with the Agency’s Act.  

He said that when these subcommittees become operational, then the work of the agency becomes easier, adding that the Agency’s will only be collecting the data and analyzing it.

He disclosed that the subcommittees are expected to meet monthly.

He commends the Director General for operationalizing the Consultative Forum, noting that despite the Agency’s Act was enacted in 2016, but the implementation only stated in 2018 when President Bio was elected.  

The Sierra Leone Local Content Agency (SLLCA) and Serra Mineral Holdings Limited have on Wednesday, October 8, 2025 signed Local Content Plan Implementation Agreement, at the Agency’s Conference Hall in Freetown.

The signing ceremony was well attended by the senior management staff of the Serra Mineral Holdings Limited and staff of the Agency.

Speaking on the rationale of signing of the Local Content Plan Implementation Agreement, the Director General of SLLCA, Mr. Fodeba Daboh said that the signing represents a critical step in operationalizing the Sierra Leone Local Content Act of 2016 within the mining sector.

He explained that the agreement formalizes Sierra Mineral Holdings’ commitment to embed inclusive, sustainable, and legally compliant local content practices into its operations across workforce development, procurement, technology transfer, and broader economic contributions.

He added that the agreement establishes a structured framework for planning, implementing, and monitoring the company’s local content obligations, in alignment with national priorities such as job creation, skills development, and enterprise growth, adding that it also sets a clear, roadmap to ensure compliance with the Local Content Act, promoting transparency and accountability.

“His Excellency the President Rtd. Brig said “we must insist in the implementation of our local content laws in Sierra Leone” and this is what the Agency and Sierra Mineral Holdings Is here to compliment,” he added. “Ultimately, this agreement is a demonstration of mutual accountability and a shared vision, ensuring that foreign direct investment results in tangible, lasting benefits for the people and the economy of Sierra Leone.”

He stated that by signing of this agreement means that the company has agreed to fully comply with the Agency’s Act particularly when it comes to employment, training, human resource development and succession plan. He disclosed that he wants to see more Sierra Leoneans in managerial roles within the Company.

He is optimistic that the Company will work inline with the agreement, disclosing that the Agency will give the Company the technical support so that the agreement will be fully implemented.

Presenting the Certificate of Authorization, the Director General explained that Section 40(1) of the Local Content Agency Act requires all foreign companies operating in Sierra Leone to formally submit a Local Content Plan to the Agency. He noted that the certificate of authorization is only issued to companies whose plans have been submitted and approved, in line with this legal requirement, noting that the certificate has a securitized feature which is a QR Code that is unique only to the company.

The General Manager of Sierra Mineral Holdings Limited, Mr. Aleksei Panov said that they prioritized Sierra Leonean suppliers, transfer of skills, sustainable development growth. He said that 70 percent of their employees are from the mining communities, noting that they also give first consideration to local suppliers for the procurement of good and services.

He assured that the Company will fully implement the agreement.

The Director of Human Resources of Sierra Mineral Holdings Limited, Zhanna Volosevich said that the Company has worked inline with the Local Content outline, disclosing that they have many promotions within the Company. She said that they have succession plan which guides them.

She said that they have about 96 percent of Sierra Leoneans employed.

She said that local content is one of the most important institutions in country because it prioritizes Sierra Leoneans, commending the Director General and team for their hard work in ensuring that indigenous Sierra Leoneans are not only employed, but mining contracts are awarded to them.

She also commended the Director General for his guideline in ensuring that their company fulfils all the requirements for the award of Certificate of Authorization.

The signing ceremony concluded with the presentation of the Notice of Approval for the company’s 2025–2027 Sierra Leonean Content Plan, along with the issuance of a Certificate of Authorization.

In a bid to enhance the implementation of local content laws, the Sierra Leone Local Content Agency (SLLCA) on Thursday, October 02, 2025 signed a partnership implementation agreement with Sonoco SL Limited, at the Agency’s Conference Hall in Freetown.  

The Director General of the Agency, Fodeba Daboh, stated that under Section 58 of the SLLCA Act 2016, all operators and contractors are required to sign an annual agreement with the Agency to integrate Sierra Leonean citizens into their workforce as exemplified by this partnership agreement signed with Sonoco SL Limited.

He said that agreement represents a critical milestone in operationalizing and integrating Local Content within their company’s framework, particularly the manufacturing and service sector in country, noting that both the Agency and the Company have made tangible commitments to ensure it full implementation.

This signing ceremony is a testament of Sonoco’s commitment to embed inclusive, sustainable and legally compliment local content practices in their operations across workforce development, procurement and technology transfer and broader economic contribution.

“His Excellency the President Rtd Brig said “we must insist in the implementation of our local content laws in Sierra Leone” and this is what the Agency and Sierra Mineral Holdings Is here to compliment,” he added, noting that the specific purpose of this signing is to ensure that the Company integrate Sierra Leonean talents, businesses and institutions into the value chain in a meaningful and progressive manner.

He explained that the agreement provides a structured framework for planning, implementing, and reporting local content obligations, aligns the Company’s initiatives with national development priorities particularly job creation, enterprise development and knowledge transfer, adding that the agreement establishes a transparent compliance roadmap to ensure accountability and measurable outcomes under the Local Content Act.

He pointed out that this agreement will lead to increased employment and skills development opportunities for Sierra Leoneans, prioritizes procurement and supplier development that will foster the growth and competitiveness of Sierra Leonean suppliers, enabling them to access contracts and build capacity through direct participation in the supply chain.

He furthered that the Company has committed to investing in the technological competence of Sierra Leonean staff and local firms through technology transfer, adding that Sonoco has the capacity for Sierra Leoneans to be capacitated. “Looking through the approved Local Content Plan, Sonoco is committing to invest in building Sierra Leone competence through trainings, joint ventures and access to modern tools and processes,” he said.

He stated that the Agency will give routine technical support to Sonoco SL Limited to facilitate linkages with local institutions, TVET training institutions and universities to support their workforce as well as to monitor compliance and performance in line with national priorities.

He thanked them for their show of commitment in Maximizing Local Content in their company’s $50 million flour mill investment, activities and operations in Sierra Leone.

The Managing Director of Sonoco SL Ltd, Mark Pritchard on the other hand made commitments to give priorities to Sierra Leoneans and Sierra Leonean businesses in terms of job creation and procurement, noting that Sonoco will also ensure increased participation of citizens in unskilled, semiskilled, skilled and management roles across all operations.

He said that both parties have made joint commitments, adding that they see this progressing in the future not just about compliance, but about collaboration and partnership.

He said that they are investing more $50 million in flour mill in country. He disclosed his love to helping Africans achieve its potentials.

He stated that while the company currently employs about 70 people, this number is expected to grow to around 350 when operations begin next year. He is optimistic that the next managing director could be a Sierra Leonean and highlighted the strong representation of Sierra Leoneans and women in leadership roles. Emphasizing their commitment to technology transfer, he pledged full support to the Agency for implementing the agreement, describing it as a living document integral to the company’s operations.

The signing ceremony was concluded with the presentation of the Notice of Approval for the company’s Sierra Leonean Content Plan, along with the issuance of a Certificate of Authorization.