CEPA UAE Sierra Leone Strengthens Bilateral Trade And Investment Across Key Sectors
UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and His Excellency Julius Maada Bio oversee a new Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement between the UAE and Sierra Leone. The CEPA is designed to deepen trade and investment links, support sustainable growth, and broaden cooperation across priority economic sectors for both nations.
The agreement is structured to reduce tariff and non-tariff barriers, encourage higher investment flows, and support private sector activity. It targets key areas such as agriculture, renewable energy, and infrastructure development, with the aim of improving market access, attracting capital, and creating more predictable conditions for long-term business planning.
The CEPA signing takes place at Qasr Al Shati, with His Excellency Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, UAE Minister of Foreign Trade, and His Excellency Ibrahim Alpha Sesay, Minister of Trade and Industry of Sierra Leone, acting as signatories. Their participation reflects an effort to formalise a fast-developing partnership between the two economies and provide a clear legal framework for cross-border deals.
His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed states that the agreement marks an important advance in strengthening economic ties with Sierra Leone in multiple priority sectors. His Highness also notes that the CEPA aligns with the UAE’s long-term approach of building partnerships worldwide that support sustainable development, shared prosperity, and new prospects for coming generations.
The UAE-Sierra Leone CEPA links directly to the UAE’s broader economic engagement with African states, which focuses on diversification and long-term growth across the continent. The UAE has become Africa’s largest source of new foreign direct investment, with total commitments exceeding USD110 billion since 2019 in sectors ranging from logistics to energy.
Recent trade data highlight the potential scale of the relationship. Bilateral non-oil foreign trade between the UAE and Sierra Leone reaches USD153 million in 2025, showing notable growth from earlier periods. As the UAE expands its trade and investment portfolio in Africa, the CEPA is expected to support new business opportunities, strengthen institutional ties, and help shape durable, mutually beneficial economic partnerships.
With inputs from WAM
Sign in with Google