Sierra Leone international tech leaders and domestic telecom providers made a strong showing at this year’s Sierra Leone Innovates Tech Summit, signaling rising private sector confidence in the country’s digital transformation agenda.

Major global firms, including Google, Amazon Web Services, Meta, and Visa, joined hundreds of local entrepreneurs, developers, and investors to showcase innovations and announce support for Sierra Leone’s growing digital economy.

The event, held in Freetown, featured a range of technology exhibitions, startup pitch competitions, and partnership signings.

“This is the clearest sign yet that Sierra Leone is being taken seriously as a tech destination,” said Salima Monorma Bah, Minister of Communication, Technology and Innovation. “We are no longer waiting for change. We are building it—with the world watching.”

One of the summit’s highlights was the Agriculture Innovation Challenge, which awarded $60,000 to local innovators tackling food security using technology. Judges included representatives from Visa and regional fintech leaders.

Local telecom providers took center stage as well. Orange Sierra Leone, a lead sponsor, launched a suite of initiatives including Coursera scholarships, design bootcamps, and youth innovation labs. CEO Sekou Amadou Bah said the company is “committed to nurturing Sierra Leone’s next generation of digital leaders.”

Meanwhile, QCell Sierra Leone unveiled its new QPower platform, which allows users to top up electricity via mobile airtime. “It’s about making life simpler and smarter,” said QCell’s Head of Strategy.

The summit also saw partnerships between private companies and universities, NGOs, and government agencies to provide digital skills training. Through a collaboration with Huawei and UNICEF, more than 3,000 students received ICT training, cascading knowledge into schools and markets nationwide.

Startups in fintech, agritech, and digital health received exposure to potential investors and mentorship from global experts. Government officials announced the creation of a Tech City and Fintech Sandbox, designed to offer young entrepreneurs regulatory and infrastructural support.

“This was more than a summit. It was a statement,” said Fatmata Koroma, a Sierra Leonean developer who pitched her solar irrigation platform to an international panel. “For the first time, it feels like the world is meeting us where we are.”

Organizers say over 3,000 participants attended the multi-day event, including delegations from neighboring countries and the Sierra Leonean diaspora.

As Sierra Leone pushes forward on broadband expansion, digital ID systems, and payment reforms, private sector momentum from this year’s summit may be a crucial accelerant for sustainable growth.