London, Wednesday 21 October 2026
Sierra Leone’s Minister of Trade and Industry, Hon. Alpha Ibrahim Sesay, is leading the country’s delegation to the *4th World Coffee Innovation Summit (WCIS26)*, which opened today at the *QEII Centre in Westminster*, London.
Held under the theme “*Moving the Needle: Securing Scalable Coffee & Cocoa Resilience*,” the two-day international summit brings together senior government officials, producers, global brands, investors, development organisations and technology providers to examine the future of coffee and cocoa amid the increasing challenges of climate change, evolving trade regulations and mounting pressures on global supply chains.
For Sierra Leone, the Summit is particularly significant as an *origin coffee-producing country*, placing it at the source of the global value chain rather than simply among markets where coffee is traded, roasted or consumed.
The Summit’s focus also aligns closely with His Excellency President Dr. Julius Maada Bio’s vision of *enhancing agricultural productivity* while *expanding domestic processing and value addition.*
For Sierra Leone, this means moving beyond primary production to capture a greater share of the economic opportunities within a global coffee and cocoa industry worth billions of dollars.
The country possesses favourable conditions for coffee cultivation and is home to *Coffea stenophylla*, a rare species native to West Africa and historically associated with Sierra Leone, where it has sometimes been described as the “*Highland Coffee of Sierra Leone*.”
Rediscovered growing in the wild in Sierra Leone in 2018, *Stenophylla* has attracted international scientific and commercial interest. Research indicates that it can tolerate higher temperatures than *Arabica* while producing a high-quality, Arabica-like flavour. As climate change increasingly threatens traditional coffee-growing regions, the species could give Sierra Leone an important place in the global search for climate-resilient coffee.
Day One featured expert panels on critical issues across the sector, including traceability, deforestation-free and resilient supply chains, trading models, satellite and AI mapping, and decarbonisation.
Among the expert contributors was Mr. Raymond Bob Katta, Executive Chairman of the *Produce Monitoring Board (PMB)* of Sierra Leone, who joined the panel on “*Putting Nature on the Balance Sheet: Natural Capital as a Strategic Business Asset*.”
The panel discussion explored how healthy landscapes underpin agricultural productivity, supply security and investment performance, and how biodiversity, soil health and water resilience can be recognised as strategic business assets rather than merely environmental considerations.
Bringing a Sierra Leonean perspective to the discussion, Mr. Katta emphasised the economic importance of the natural systems and biological resources upon which agricultural production depends. “*Soil is Capital. Canopy is Capital. Genetics is Capital*,” he stressed; a message with particular resonance for Sierra Leone as it seeks to harness its natural endowments and distinctive coffee heritage for resilient agricultural growth.
Through *WCIS26*, Sierra Leone is showcasing its coffee potential while engaging international buyers and investors, strengthening partnerships and exploring opportunities for processing, branding and greater value capture at origin.
Minister Sesay is also a featured speaker at *WCIS26* and is scheduled to join Rachel Kyte, the UK Special Representative for Climate, on Thursday for a high-level fireside discussion on “*From Climate Ambition to Trade & Investment*.”
The session will explore how producing countries can attract investment, strengthen market access and secure greater economic returns from what they produce; priorities closely aligned with Sierra Leone’s drive to build productive capacity and make trade and investment stronger engines of growth.
For Minister Sesay, “*the wider objective is to translate Sierra Leone’s natural advantages, such as its climate-resilient coffee potential, into tangible economic gains: stronger exports, increased investment, new market opportunities and better livelihoods for producers*.”
*WCIS26* provides an important opportunity to advance that ambition while positioning Sierra Leone’s distinctive coffee heritage within the growing global market for resilient and sustainably produced coffee.
Also forming part of Minister Sesay’s team is Mr. Fofie Baimba, Managing Director of the *Sierra Leone Produce Marketing Company (SLPMC)*. Representatives of the Sierra Leone High Commission in the United Kingdom attending the Summit include Deputy High Commissioner Mrs. Yvonne King Odigboh, Trade Attaché Mr. Sahr Dugba, and Information Attaché Mr. Abdulai M. Braima.
Abdulai M. Braima
Information Attaché