By: Abigail Adeyemi
Make Sierra Leone Famous LLC and VR&C Marketing have officially published the comprehensive reportage for the London leg of the 4th Annual Sierra Leone Diaspora Investment Conference (SLDIC 2026). Held on June 19–20, 2026, at the InterContinental Hotel Park Lane, the inaugural European convening marked a major shift in diaspora engagement transitioning from basic household remittances toward structured, pooled investment vehicles and institutional capital mobilization. Convened, curated, and hosted by Vickie Remoe, CEO of VR&C Marketing and Founder of SLDIC, the London event brought together over 400 delegates, including senior government officials, international development partners, financial executives, and diaspora entrepreneurs. Key Highlights & Strategic Outcomes from the London Report Data-Driven Diaspora Insights: Opening the conference, Vickie Remoe presented key findings from the Sierra Leone Diaspora Fund Survey 2026 (surveying 400+ diaspora professionals). Results revealed that 58% of respondents view social impact (job creation and structural poverty reduction) as their primary motivation for sending funds home. However, 33% identified a lack of trust and 24% cited limited transparency/due diligence as primary barriers to investing.
National Diaspora Finance Framework: Keynote speaker H.E. Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh, Vice President of Sierra Leone, announced that a national diaspora finance framework is currently under development and prioritized within the government’s Integrated National Finance Framework. He emphasized successful precedents like Nigeria’s sovereign diaspora bond and Burkina Faso’s patriotic bond as blueprints for channeling non-resident capital into national infrastructure. Proposed Sierra Leone Diaspora Bond: Directing the financial systems panel, Idrissa Kanu (Director of Revenue and Tax Policy, Ministry of Finance) outlined proposed design principles for a Sierra Leone Diaspora Bond, featuring tiered tax exemptions on interest (up to 100% for 10-year instruments), a minimum entry threshold of ~$500, multi-currency options, and independent diaspora-led governance. Banking & Macroeconomic Reforms: Dr. Ibrahim Stevens, Governor of the Bank of Sierra Leone, highlighted critical economic stabilization measures, including single-digit inflation (~4%), stable foreign exchange, flexible foreign currency account operations, and reduced commercial lending rates.
Sebastian Ashong-Katai, Managing Director of Ecobank Sierra Leone, confirmed Ecobank’s readiness to structure a diaspora bond, roll out FX-hedging solutions, and issue foreign-currency retail mortgages for diaspora real estate buyers. Mapping Investment Talent: Huw Dalkin of British International Investment (BII) unveiled a market-building initiative mapping over 150 vetted local and diaspora finance professionals to solve visibility gaps, supported by a planned fellowship program and BII’s $25 million SME credit facility with Ecobank. Sustainable HealthcareFinancing: Dr. Austin Demby, Minister of Health, and Vicky Reed, Executive Director of Partners in Health Sierra Leone (PIH-SL), reframed healthcare as an investable sector. Opportunities were highlighted in diagnostics, private facility operations, digital health informatics, and the upcoming National Health Insurance Scheme. Pitch CompetitionChampions: The flagship King Jimmy Landing Pitch Competition evaluated seven live startup finalists selected from 49 applicants. The session highlighted high-growth opportunities across health tech, fintech, renewable energy, eco-recycling, and tourism. The report provides a detailed record of the London conference and ideas shaping the next phase of Sierra Leone’s diaspora investment journey.
