Test Drive 2q:2014 | Page 29

2Q: 2014 Sierra Leone’s Participation in the West Africa Mining Investment Summit SIERRA LEONES ROLE WITHIN THE EMERGING GLOBAL MINING SECTOR Conference Briefing M Keynote Speech: 8th April, Main Conference Day One • Hon. M.Mansaray Minister of Mineral Resources, Sierra Leone. • • • Sierra Leone’s policies and mineral license framework: assessing government strategy and the role of the National Minerals Agency (NMA). Understanding the successes of the Sierra Leonean minerals sector: what other countries can learn? Examining the role and progress of the NMA and its position as an independent regulator. How does Sierra Leone plan to support mining investment over the next five years and what could this mean for you? inisters of mining, lands and energy attended the West African Mining Summit held in London during the second quarter of 2014, from Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ghana, Mauritania and Mali. All were in attendance for speaking and available for meetings. Financiers and analysts from international banks, fund managers and financial institutions graced the occasion and were available for one-on-one meetings. The general theme discussed in great detail was “How to minimize overall risk in West Africa mining and infrastructure development, as well as the outlook for gold, iron ore and other minerals developing rapidly in West Africa.” It was stressed that government plays a key role in all of the above and that inter-country cooperation of governments will further major infrastructure developments in the region.