The Deputy Minister of Mines and Minerals Resources, Umaru Napoleon Koroma, has once again placed Sierra Leone in the global spotlight on minerals governance and sustainable development through his participation in the Future Minerals Forum (FMF) in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Widely described as one of the world’s leading platforms for shaping the future of the mineral and mining industry, the Future Minerals Forum brought together high-level policymakers, investors, industry leaders and technical experts from Africa, the Middle East, Asia, Europe and the Americas. Against that international backdrop, Umaru Napoleon Koroma’s presence highlighted Sierra Leone’s increasing relevance in global discussions on responsible mineral governance, value addition and sustainable resource development.
During the forum, the Deputy Minister engaged in strategic conversations on sustainable mining practices, critical minerals for the energy transition, local value addition and inclusive development. Drawing from Sierra Leone’s experience as a mineral-rich country, he emphasized the importance of policies that promote investment while ensuring environmental protection and stronger benefits for host communities.
Umaru Napoleon Koroma also used the opportunity to showcase Sierra Leone’s mineral potential, citing resources such as iron ore, rutile, bauxite and other precious minerals. He underscored the need for partnerships that extend beyond extraction, stressing the importance of technology transfer, skills development and downstream processing as key pathways to long-term national growth.
His interventions, observers noted, resonated with participants seeking stable, transparent and reform-oriented jurisdictions for responsible mineral investment, especially at a time when global demand for critical minerals continues to rise.
On the sidelines of the forum, Umaru Napoleon Koroma held a series of constructive engagements with international investors, Government representatives and development partners, exploring areas of collaboration aligned with Sierra Leone’s development priorities. The discussions further reinforced the country’s image as an emerging destination for responsible investment and innovation-driven reforms in the minerals sector.
Umaru Napoleon Koroma’s participation at the Future Minerals Forum reflects his continued commitment to advancing Sierra Leone’s strategic interests on the global stage. It also supports the country’s wider ambition to harness mineral wealth not merely as a source of revenue, but as a catalyst for industrialization, job creation and sustainable economic transformation.
With global attention increasingly shifting toward critical minerals and the green energy transition, Sierra Leone’s voice, articulated through leaders such as Umaru Napoleon Koroma continues to gain momentum in shaping the future direction of the global minerals economy.
