Sierra Leone, China deepen trade partnership

Sierra Leone has inaugurated its fifth Chinese Chamber of Commerce, signalling deeper bilateral engagement and sustained investor presence in the country’s post-pandemic recovery phase. The ceremony in Freetown, covered by AYV News, brought together officials from the Ministry of Trade and the Chinese embassy, highlighting Beijing’s continued role as one of Sierra Leone’s top trading and infrastructure partners.

China currently accounts for roughly 18 % of Sierra Leone’s total trade volume and remains the largest source of concessional finance for roads, energy, and port projects. Merchandise imports from China rose 11 % year-on-year in H1 2025 to US $620 million, while exports—dominated by iron ore and fisheries—totalled US $370 million. The new chamber is expected to coordinate more than 120 Chinese-affiliated firms operating in construction, telecoms, and agriculture, providing a unified platform for regulatory dialogue and business facilitation.

The initiative coincides with the government’s Industrialization and Trade Policy 2024–2030, which prioritises manufacturing zones around Pepel Port and the Wellington industrial corridor. Officials expect that expanded Chinese participation will bolster technology transfer and SME subcontracting, key to raising local value-added. The World Bank estimates manufacturing output could increase by 1.2 percentage points of GDP annually if new investments are fully absorbed.

Fiscal conditions have stabilised: the leone traded near Le 21.7 / US $ in October, inflation slowed to 6.9 %, and foreign reserves cover about 3.5 months of imports. Public debt stands near 74 % of GDP, but external-debt service is cushioned by ongoing restructuring talks with bilateral lenders, including China Exim Bank. The central bank has kept its policy rate at 18 %, anchoring currency stability and maintaining real-positive yields.

Analysts link the chamber’s launch to broader geopolitical competition for West African infrastructure access. With global shipping indices such as the Baltic Dry Index (BDI) stabilising and Asian industrial demand recovering, Chinese contractors are re-engaging frontier economies. The development may also complement the IMF’s Extended Credit Facility, which emphasises private-sector-led growth.

For Sierra Leone, sustaining transparency in procurement and ensuring fair labour standards will determine whether deepening Chinese engagement translates into sustainable development rather than dependency. The chamber’s success will ultimately hinge on joint adherence to the country’s local-content regulations and measurable export diversification over the next decade.