IOM Sierra Leone launched Diaspora Agribusiness, to utilize SL Diaspora for country development through investment.  Sierra Leone is the time of development phase, but almost all of business sectors faces funding resources. IOM try to utilize Diaspora for encouraging remittance/ investment to home country.

The panel was a mix of representatives from key GoSL ministries and agencies, local business associations and diaspora business owner who operate locally. The focus of the discussion was to provide some answers to the question of how best the Sierra Leone diaspora private sector actors can help improve the business and investment climate in Sierra Leone through ongoing public-private league. Some of the panelist discussed their experience of doing business in country, whether as local Sierra Leoneans or as diaspora or diaspora returnees and identified general and specific challenges of working in the agribusiness sector whilst other panelist provided insight into the current policy landscape in the country. Some topics covered where

a.        The role of  diaspora in agribusiness development in Sierra Leone and the relationship between diaspora and local business owners

b.        Financial regulation and finance for business and its impact on conducting business in country

c.        The level and quality of education and skills training within the country and how these contribute to the development of the agriculture/agribusiness sector

d.        The general challenges of capacity within the sector

e.        The role of  GoSL in creating enabling environment to attract investment from the private sector and diaspora, and

f.        Policy and regulation and how industry reform within the agriculture sector can enable diaspora and locals to collaborate and do business