Sierra Leone's First Ever Business Mag Launches to Boost Post-Ebola Private Sector Push

Freetown, Sierra Leone, December 4, 2015 (Newswire.com) - With Sierra Leone’s economy expected to contract by over 20% this year, private sector driven economic growth is high on the country’s post-Ebola recovery agenda.   However, sources of business intelligence and support widely available in developed economies, such as business publications, industry bodies and networking groups, are either non-existent or thin on the ground in Sierra Leone.

Sierra Leone’s first and only dedicated business magazine - FT Insight locates itself in that gap.  It will be a forum for business support, research, best practice, profiles of local business success, training, opinion and information on development partner initiatives.

"Sierra Leone's business environment is tough and uncompromising, and it demands a very special type of entrepreneur. FT Insight will be a platform that showcases the grit, wit, initiative and sheer determination of the men and women who build and sustain businesses in Sierra Leone."

Memuna Forna, Ms

The magazine has a social purpose of targeting potential youth entrepreneurs.  In common with most Sub-Saharan countries, Sierra Leone has a substantial youth population.  They make up one third of the total population group.  Around 70% are underemployed or unemployed and 50% illiterate and unskilled.  The magazine taps into the growing smart phone use in the country to make the digital version of the magazine free to registered users. Content will also appear on www.ftinsight.net.

The magazine’s founding team has extensive backgrounds in journalism and design and a history of promoting Sierra Leone's private sector.  Earlier this year, they organised a post Ebola investment forum in the House of Commons which was hosted by David Lammy MP.  This was followed by a trade fair in Sierra Leone to link Sierra Leonean companies with the humanitarian agencies engaged in the Ebola response.  

The new 32-page glossy will be published six times a year.  The first issue focuses on resilience and features an exclusive interview with Sierra Leone’s Foreign Minister – Dr Samura Kamara, an exclusive interview with the country’s new Deputy Director General of the National Insurance and Social Security Trust, and a behind the scenes look at Crown Bakery - one of Sierra Leone’s most long-standing and successful businesses.  Also covered is the missing middle from Sierra Leone’s SME sector and a discussion of the country’s move to an electronic payment system.

Speaking about FT Insight, publisher Memuna Forna said: "Sierra Leone’s business environment is tough and uncompromising, and it demands a very special type of entrepreneur. FT Insight will be a platform that showcases the grit, wit, initiative and sheer determination of the men and women who build and sustain businesses in Sierra Leone.”

For further information, please contact: Memuna Forna on 0771722 1023 or on [email protected]