The Calabash Newspaper published on 24 October 2025 an article titled "To Boost Sierra Leone-China Trade Relations . . . Vice President Hails Inauguration of 5th Chinese Chamber of Commerce" by Alvin Lansana Kargbo.
China is Sierra Leone's largest trading partner ($1.8 billion in 2024) and biggest source of foreign direct investment, which has surpassed $2 billion. The two countries recently inaugurated the 5th Chinese Chamber of Commerce in Sierra Leone, which brings together 17 Chinese companies.
Sierra Leone's vice president commented at the inauguration of the Chamber of Commerce that when development aid to Africa is declining, private sector investment becomes critical for Sierra Leone's economic resilience.
Comment: The vice president's comment is a lightly veiled reference to the dismantlement of USAID and cutbacks in development assistance by some European countries. The question now is whether Western private companies will actually step up investment in countries like Sierra Leone.
