The Government of Sierra Leone has officially launched the West Africa Integration and Investment Summit (WAIIS) 2026, a major regional initiative to attract investment, accelerate economic integration, and create employment opportunities across West Africa.
The inaugural summit, conceived under the leadership of President Dr Julius Maada Bio, is scheduled to take place in Lungi, Sierra Leone, from November 16 to 18, 2026.
Announced in Freetown on Wednesday, October 21, the summit is expected to bring together Heads of State and Government, ministers, international business executives, development finance institutions, sovereign wealth funds, institutional investors, entrepreneurs and development partners.
According to government officials, the initiative seeks to position West Africa as a competitive destination for international investment while transforming the region’s economic potential into practical business opportunities, industrial development and sustainable jobs.
Speaking at the launch, Hon. Dr Kandeh Kolleh Yumkella, Special Envoy of President Bio for WAIIS and Chairman of the Presidential Initiative on Climate Change, Renewable Energy and Food Security (PI-CREF), called for a shift in how West Africa is presented to the international investment community.
Yumkella argued that despite the region’s considerable economic potential, international discussions often focus more on its challenges than its opportunities.
“West Africa possesses extraordinary assets: a young and dynamic population, abundant natural resources, growing markets, and enormous entrepreneurial potential. Yet too often, the region is viewed through the lens of its challenges rather than its opportunities.”
He explained that WAIIS aims to change this perception by presenting a unified regional investment proposition and creating opportunities for governments and private investors to establish meaningful partnerships.
According to Yumkella, the ultimate objective is to translate regional cooperation into tangible economic benefits, including increased investment, job creation and long-term prosperity.
Joseph Nganga, Chief Executive Officer of AfCEN and Chief Operating Officer of WAIIS, said the summit would prioritise practical investment outcomes over discussion alone.
“WAIIS is about getting deals done mobilising capital for major investments in energy, strategic minerals, agribusiness, and digital infrastructure, while opening markets and commercial opportunities for businesses across West Africa.”
Nganga explained that dedicated investment discussions, known as Deal Rooms, would provide opportunities for governments, investors and businesses to engage directly on priority projects.
These sessions are intended to facilitate project financing, establish commercial partnerships and support agreements involving supply contracts and investment opportunities.
The approach is designed to help move investment proposals beyond initial discussions towards financing arrangements and implementation.
With a population estimated at more than 450 million people across 15 countries, West Africa represents a substantial market with opportunities in infrastructure, agriculture, energy, manufacturing, technology and logistics.
Despite its natural resources, expanding population and entrepreneurial activity, organisers say many investment opportunities across the region remain underdeveloped.
WAIIS aims to address this gap by bringing together policymakers, financiers and private-sector leaders to identify projects capable of attracting investment and delivering economic benefits.
The summit is also expected to promote greater regional coordination, allowing participating countries to explore investment opportunities that extend beyond individual national markets.
For Sierra Leone, hosting the inaugural summit provides an opportunity to strengthen its international economic profile and position the country as a meeting point for regional investment discussions.
Organisers have described WAIIS as an action-oriented investment platform intended to translate policy discussions and proposed projects into financial commitments, contracts and implementation.
A dedicated secretariat will be responsible for monitoring commitments arising from the summit through 2030, providing a mechanism for tracking progress beyond the three-day event.
The proposed follow-up structure is intended to strengthen accountability and encourage participating institutions to advance investment agreements reached during the summit.
With preparations underway for the November gathering, attention will turn to the participation of regional leaders, international investors and businesses, as well as the investment opportunities presented.
The launch of WAIIS 2026 marks Sierra Leone’s effort to play a leading role in promoting regional economic integration and attracting transformative investment across West Africa.
The success of the initiative will ultimately depend on its ability to convert investment discussions into financed projects, functioning businesses and sustainable employment opportunities.