Sierra Leone

 

Sierra Leone

1. Country / Territory Brief

Sierra Leone is a LDC in Western Africa member of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the

West African Monetary Zone (WAMZ). With an economy strongly based on agriculture, It is a country rich of diverse natural

resources and counts prized commodities such as diamonds, rutile, cocoa and coffee among its main exports. Its top

destinations for exports are China, Belgium, but also Japan and Turkey.

In recent years, Sierra Leone has made tremendous efforts to ameliorate its trade environment and boost its economy. The

government has undertaken several fiscal and monetary reforms to contain inflation and minimize debt and adopted sound

measures to increase agricultural production. In terms of trade, the country’s efforts have been crowned by ranking 11th among

the top 50 economies for “narrowing the distance to the frontier the most since 2005” according to the World Bank report Doing

Business 2013. Furthermore, the government has recently solicited ITC’s expertise in the areas of trade Intelligence building,

institutional strengthening and sector development with the vision to ameliorate Sierra Leone’s trade capacities. Sierra Leone is

also an eligible country for assistance under the Enhanced integrated Framework.

2. People and Economy

2.1 People

Total population

(growth rates per annum) 5,532,139 in 2012 with growth rates of 2.0% p.a during 2008-2012

Population density

(people per sq. km of

land area)

77 in 2012

Female population 50.5% in 2012

Population below 15

years of age 41.7% in 2008 ; 42.4% in 2012

Urban population 38.2% in 2012

Population living below

$1.25 a day at purchasing

power parity (PPP)

NA

Ranking in the Human

Development Index (HDI) 177 out of 186 in 2012

Evolution of the Human

Development Index (HDI)

Source: United Nations Development Programme Human Development Indicators

Note: The Human Development Index measures the overall development of a nation and ranges from 0 (low level of

development) to 1 (highest level of development). The United Nations Development Programme (http://hdr.undp.org)

provides a detailed explanation. ITC Regional group refers to ITC definition

Health Life expectancy at birth (years) (45); Mortality rate, under-5 (per thousand live births) (181.6) in

2012

Education Education index - expected and mean years of schooling (rank) ( 169 out of 191) in 2012

Income level NA

Inequality Inequality-adjusted HDI (rank) (128 out of 191)in 2012

Poverty Multidimensional Poverty Index (rank)( 10 out of 191) in 2012

Gender Gender inequality index (rank) (9 out of 191) in 2012

Sustainability NA

2.2 Economy

Added value per sector

(current US$ and % of GDP)

Sector added value

2004 2008 2012

US $ %GDP US $ %GDP US $ %GDP

Agriculture 702 51.8 1,344 56.4 0 0

Industry 171 12.6 197 8.3 0 0

Manufacturing 38 2.8 61 2.6 0 0

Services 482 35.6 843 35.4 0 0

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators (WDI)

Note: Added value is US$ terms are expressed in million, GDP US$, and "6,976 to be read

6'976"

Evolution of GDP

(constant 2005 US$)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators (WDI)

Note: ITC calculations based on the World Bank WDI

Evolution of GDP per capita

(constant 2005 US$)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators (WDI)

Note: ITC calculations based on the World Bank WDI

Remittances as a Share of

GDP

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators (WDI)

Note: ITC calculations based on World Bank WDI, IMF BOP statistics, and "6,976 to be

read 6'976"

3. Trade Performance

3.1 General Trade Performance

3.1.1 Total Export Growth

Source: ITC, calculations based on ITC’s Trade Competitiveness Map data.

Note:Graph shows decomposition of the country’s export growth in value terms by diversification pattern over the indicated

period.

3.1.2 Marginal Export Growth

Source: ITC, calculations based on ITC’s Trade Competitiveness Map data.

Note:Graph shows decomposition of the country’s export growth in value by structural driving effects over the indicated period.

Values are in US$ thousands.

3.2 Sector Trade Performance

3.2.1 Sectoral Diversification in Products - Export

3.2.2 Sectoral Diversification in Products – Import

3.2.3 Sectoral Diversification in Destinations - Export

3.2.4 Sectoral Diversification in Destinations - Import

3.2.5 Sectors by World Demand - Export

3.2.6 Sectors by World Demand - Import

3.2.7 Trade Performance Index

4. Trade Strategy and Policy

Trade and Development Strategies

Year Strategy name Sector

2011

ECOWAS Mango Export Strategy

The Mango Export Strategy for the Economic

Community of Western African States...

Mango

2010

Sierra Leone National Export Strategy

The National Export Strategy of Sierra Leone

outlines the current situation of...

Tourism, Sugar Industry, Rutile, Rice, Palm Oil, Gold, Ginger,

Fisheries, Diamonds, Coffee, Cocoa, Chilli, Cassava, Cashew,

Bauxite

2009

National Rice Development Strategy

The strategy aims at reducing the percentage

of rice consumption imported from...

Rice

2009

National Sustainable Agriculture Development

Plan

The National Sustainable Agriculture

Development Plan aims at: i) fostering

increased...

2008

An Agenda for Change

The strategy aims at achieving a minimum of

10% GDP incrase per...

2006

Adding Value through Trade for Poverty

Reduction

The DTIS aims at analysing the main

contraints to Sierra Leone's integration...

Agro-Industry, Forestry, Fisheries, Tourism, Cocoa, Coffee, Palm Oil,

Cashew, Rice, Cassava,...

2006

UNDAF Sierra Leone 2006 - 2007

The UNDAF is alligned with the Poverty

Reduction Strategy Paper and the...

2005

Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper - Sierra

Leone 2005-2007

Firstly, the PRSP presents the main

characteristics and causes of poverty in...

2003

Sierra Leone Vision 2025

The Vision 2025 provides an analysis of the

economic background, the politics...

Business and Regulatory Environment

Multilateral Trade Instruments

Abstract

The Trade Treaties Map tool is a web-based system on multilateral

trade treaties and instruments designed to assist trade support

institutions (TSIs) and policymakers in optimizing their country's legal

framework on international trade

Instrument

ratified : 90 / 266 instruments

Ratification

rate : 33.8%

Weighted

score : 45/100

Ratification

Rate Rank

Weighted

Score

Rank

In World : 114 / 193 109 /

193

In Region : Sub-

Saharan

Africa

16/ 47 16/ 47

In

Development

level :

Least

developed

country

8/ 48 8/ 48

Graph

Presents a visual illustration breaking down a country’s ratification level

according to various categories and compares it to the world average.

Instruments ratified Click here for a full list and more details about these

multi-lateral trade instruments

Infrastructure

Indicator Value Rank/148

Quality of overall infrastructure How would you assess general infrastructure (e.g.,

transport, telephony, and energy) in your country? [1 = extremely underdeveloped—

among the worst in the world; 7 = extensive and efficient—among the best in the

world] | 2012–13 weighted average.

3.1422491 125

Quality of roads How would you assess roads in your country? (1 = extremely

underdeveloped; 7 = extensive and efficient by international standards) | 2010, 2011. 3.02974345 107

Quality of railroad infrastructure How would you assess the railroad system in your

country? (1 = extremely underdeveloped; 7 = extensive and efficient by international

standards) | 2010, 2011.

1.4632582 112

Quality of port infrastructure How would you assess port facilities in your country? (1 =

extremely underdeveloped; 7 = well-developed and efficient by international

standards). For landlocked countries, this measures the ease of access to port

facilities and inland waterways | 2010, 2011.

3.637722 101

Quality of air transport infrastructure How would you assess passenger air transport

infrastructure in your country? (1 = extremely underdeveloped; 7 = extensive and

efficient by international standards) | 2010, 2011.

2.7904932 138

Individuals using Internet (%) Internet users are people with access to the worldwide

network. 2.35131725 128

Mobile telephone subscriptions/100 pop According to the World Bank, mobile cellular

telephone subscriptions are subscriptions to a public mobile telephone service using

cellular technology, which provides access to switched telephone technology.

Postpaid and prepaid subscriptions are included. This can also include analogue and

digital cellular systems but should not include non-cellular systems. Subscribers to

fixed wireless, public mobile data services, or radio paging services are not included.

36.0730929 142

Fixed broadband Internet subscriptions/100 pop: The International Telecommunication

Union considers broadband to be any dedicated connection to the Internet of 256

kilobits per second or faster, in both directions. Broadband subscribers refers to the

sum of DSL, cable modem and other broadband (for example, fiber optic, fixed

wireless, apartment LANs, satellite connections) subscribers.

0.29380799647 142

Source: World Economic Forum, Global Enabling Trade Report 2014

5. ITC and the Country/Territory

5.1 ITC Projects

5.1.1 Current projects

No Current Projects Found!

5.1.2 Recent projects

Cross border trade bewteen Liberia and Sierra Leonne

IA81 - PACT2 - Design of ECOWAS-TEN network of trade experts

ECOWAS Regional trade information networks

Sierra Leone - Support to the Export Development and Investment Corporation (SLEDIC)

Sierra Leone - Capacity Building for Trade Policy Formulation and Trade Information Access

PACT 2 - ECOWAS Regional Private Sector Apex Bodies for Public-Private Dialogue

PACT 2 - ECOWAS Networks of National and Regional TSIs

PACT 2 - ECOWAS Sector Strategy

PACT 2 - ECOWAS Market Analysis and Sector Prioritization

PACT 2 - ECOWAS Improved Technical Capacities and RBM Operations

5.2 Events

5.2.1 Upcoming events

No data

5.2.2 Recent events

To conduct Benchmarking Assisted Assessment of TSIs with SLIEPA, Freetown04/11/2013-Freetown

5.3 ITC Contacts

Aissatou DIALLO

Senior Trade Promotion Officer

+41 22 730 0284

diallo@intracen.org

Ruben PHOOLCHUND

Chief, Office for Africa

+41 22 730 0508

phoolchund@intracen.org

Read more

Read more

6. Trade Information Sources and

Contacts

6.1 Trade Information Sources

This section provides a list of country specific print and online publications on trade-related topics, including both ITC and

external sources.

6.1.1 ITC publications

Rencontre acheteurs/vendeurs sur les produits alimentaires et agricoles, l'eau et l'assainissement, l'hébergement,

les articles de protection personnelle et de ménage

Trade Secrets : The Export Answer Book for Small and Medium-Sized Exporters in Sierra Leone

Handbook, customised to suit the needs of SMEs in Sierra Leone and answering the most commonly asked questions on the

export process - covers market research, cultural issues, marketing, market...

Read more

A Pilot Project on the Commercialization and Promotion of Ginger Produced by Low-Income Communities in Sierra

Leone

Paper presented at ITC Executive Forum : 'Bringing the Poor into the Export Process : Linkages and Strategic Implications',

Berlin, Germany, 27-30 September, 2006 - describes the ginger production Pilot...

6.1.2 Selected printed information sources

2007 SPS Capacity in Liberia

2007 SPS Synthesis Report : Summary of SPS and Food Safety Performance of Non-UEMOA Countries in West Africa

2006 SPS Capacity in Guinea

2006 - Kyambalesa H; Houngnikpo M C Economic Integration and Development in Africa

2007 - Kima B Etude du marché du beurre de karité et de ses produits dérivés dans les pays du Burkina Faso, du Mali, du

Niger, de la Sierra Leonne et de la Guinée : Rapport de synthèse

2006 West African Financial Flows and Opportunities for People and Small Businesses

1996 - Webster L; Fidler P, eds. Informal Sector and Microfinance Institutions in West Africa

2006 Cotton in West Africa : The Economic and Social Stakes

2010 South-South Cooperation : The Same Old Game or a New Paradigm?

2008 - D'Alessandro S Evaluation sous-régionale de la chaîne de valeurs oignon/échalote en Afrique de l'Ouest

2010 Investment Policy Review : Sierra Leone

1986 Traité instituant la Communauté économique de l'Afrique de l'Ouest et protocoles annexes. - Mis à jour

2006 EPA Negotiations, West Africa : Executive Brief

2006 - Alaba, Olumuyiwa B EU-ECOWAS EPA : Regional Integration, Trade Facilitation and Development in West Africa

2006 SPS Capacity in Sierra Leone

2008 Sub-Saharan Africa : Factors Affecting Trade Patterns of Selected Industries. - Second Annual Report

2009 - Twerefou D K Mineral Exploitation, Environmental Sustainability and Sustainable Development in EAC, SADC and

ECOWAS Regions

2006 Overview of the Regional EPA Negotiations : West Africa-EU Economic Partnership Agreement

2005 Gender and ICTs for Development : A Global Sourcebook

2006 Le coton en Afrique de l'Ouest : Un enjeu économique et social

2010 - Rolland JP; Alpha A Etude sur la cohérence des politiques commerciales en Afrique de l'Ouest

2011 - Rolland J P; Alpha A Analyse de la cohérence des politiques commerciales en Afrique de l'Ouest

2010 Guinea-Bissau Cashew and Beyond : Diversification Through Trade : Diagnostic Trade Integration Study for the

Enhanced Integrated Framework for Trade-Related Technical Assistance

2010 Senegal : A GAP Analysis of ECOWAS Market Integration

2012 - Hoppe M; and Aidoo F Removing Barriers to Trade between Ghana and Nigeria : Strengthening Regional Integration

by Implementing ECOWAS Commitment

2008 Perfil de la Industria Paraguaya de Software

2009 Characteristics of Malaysia's Animal Feed Market

2014 Perspectives on Global Development 2014: Boosting Productivity to Meet the Middle-Income Challenge

2010 Mobilizing Aid for Trade for SPS-Related Technical Cooperation in the Greater Mekong Sub-Region

2010 Leather Garments in the EU

2006 Overview of the Current State of Organic Agriculture in Kenya, Uganda and the Republic of Tanzania and the

Opportunities for Regional Harmonization

2007 Export Diversification and Value Addition for Human Development : Addressing the Impact of the Agreement on Textiles

and Clothing Expiration on Cambodia

2006 - Ruffing, Lorraine Deepening Development Through Business Linkages

2012 OECD Economic Surveys: Chile

2005 - Magder, D Egypt after the Multi-Fiber Arrangement: Global Apparel and Textile Supply Chains as a Route for Industrial

Upgrading

2006 Bangladesh: Furniture Export Market Sector Brief

2012 Cotton Contamination Surveys, 2001 - 2003 - 2005 - 2007 - 2009 - 2011

2006 - Boutou, Olivier Management de la sécurité des aliments : De l'HACCP à l'ISO 22000

2006 Trading up : Economic Perspectives on Development Issues in the Multilateral Trading System

2004 Perfiles de mercado para productos bolivianos en los mercados de Argentina, Brasil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, México,

Paraguay, Perú, Uruguay y Venezuela

2010 Vietnam: Oilseeds and Products

2007 Organic Farming in the Czech Republic: 2007 Yearbook

2007 - Gibbon P; Bolwig S Economics of Certified of Organic Farming in Tropical Africa: A Preliminary Assessment

2006 The Relationship of Third-party Certification (TPC) to Sanitary / Phytosanitary (SPS) Measures and the International

Agri-Food Trade; Case Study: Guatemala- with Emphasis on Food Safety

2007 - Ismail F Mainstreaming Development in the WTO : Developing Countries in the Doha Round

2009 Market Report. Focus on the Nordic Market - Fresh Fruit and Vegetables

2001 - Karlöf, Bengt Benchlearning : Good Examples as a Lever for Development

2003 - Martin W; Pangestu M, eds. Options for Global Trade Reform : A View from the Asia-Pacific

2010 L'industrie sri lankaise du textile-habillement

2000 - Hauber, Christiane Formation, Prevention & Determination of Cr (VI) in Leather

6.1.3 Selected online information sources

Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) = Communauté économique des Etats de l'Afrique de l'Ouest

(CEDEAO)

APE - CEDEAO

ESOKO

ECOWAS Press Releases

Accelerated Agribusiness and Agro-Industries Development Initiative (3ADI)

West African Monetary Institute = Institut monétaire de l'Afrique de l'Ouest

African Regional Organization for Standardization (ARSO)

6.2 Trade Contacts

Official Name Address City Phone Number Fax

Number Email Website

Sierra Leone Opportunities

Industrialization Centers (SLOIC)

PND 388, 4 Hillview

Drive, Murraytown Freetown 232 76 611 527

samligi747@yahoo.com

http://www.oicinternational.org/index.php?

page=sloic

Sierra Leone Chamber of

Commerce, Industry and

Agriculture

Lamina Sankoh Street Freetown 

+23222 226305/0023222 220904

+232 22228005

cocsl@sierratel.sl

http://www.cocsl.com

Sierra Leone Investment and Export

Promotion Agency OAU Drive, Tower Hill Freetown 

+232 25 332 863

info@sliepa.org

http://www.investsierraleone.biz