• There’s a feeling in there (the auditorium)... that’s enormous.”

         Kevin McPhilips, CEO/Chairman
         McPhilips Travel

• “I would like to thank The Office of Tony Blair and SLIEPA for a wonderfully well organised event, which was most informative and thoroughly enjoyable. You have done Sierra Leoneans proud – I had tears in my throughout most of the event . The high profile nature of the event and dedication of all involved did not go unnoticed. The future looks bright for Sierra Leone. Thank you, thank you, thank you!”

        Ayesha Ibrahim, Business Development Director, 
        Gbelane Agricultural Project (GAP)

• “This is so much better than the African Venture Capital Conference in Cairo we just went to.”

          Tom Cairnes, Co-Founder
          Manocap
 

• “This is simply incredible...and I know it wouldn’t have happened without your guys (AGI).”
  Stewart Paperin
  Soros Economic Development Fund
   
• “I just wanted to send a quick line to say what a brilliant event it was, with the organisation spot on - so often the area where Africa can fall down on these type of events. The preparation was worth every minute. If that does not attract investment then no idea what will! Please pass on to the team there. I and my colleague who attended met some very interesting people with whom we are hoping to work, and more importantly it has given us the information to market Sierra Leone and understand what the country represents in late 2009. Great work!”
  Debbie Goldthorpe, COO
  Africa Matters
   
• “There are people downstairs who are desperate to get in and there’s a waiting list only. So its been tremendous, absolutely fantastic. It feels great.”
  Claire Curtis-Thomas MP
  Construction & Department Partnership (UK)
   
• “We'll convert that enthusiasm into action.”
  Jeffrey Wright, Actor and Founder
  Taia LLC
   
• “This conference really cements what’s been happening in terms of promoting Sierra Leone, in terms of getting rid of the past, getting rid of the misrepresentations that are out there about the country about stability and economic opportunity. Hopefully it will be a watershed for us to stop talking about the past and the war and to start talking about investing in the country for the future.”
  Jon Sisay, CEO
  Titanium Resources Group
   
• “My team would like to congratulate you for a fantastic and highly impressive conference. The conference was well thought out, well executed, useful and interesting.
  Orli Arav, Director
  Frontier Markets Fund Managers (FMFM
• “I thought it did a great marketing job, with powerful data and very clear messages.“
  Madeleine Anderson
  Equity For Africa
   
• “Very impressed so far, a huge turnout and some very impressive delegates and speakers.”
  Charlie Tryon, Managing Director
  Maris Capital
   
• “I’m fascinated to see the number of new businesses showing up. They’re international / domestic businesses, coming up with new opportunities that were inconceivable a year ago, and I’m really impressed. I’m impressed with the range and quality and depth of investment.”
  Lisa Curtis, Partner
  DeRisk Advisory Services
   
• A very professional conference and mining presentation / new act. I am sure this conference will act as a catalyst for wealth creation in Sierra Leone.”
  Angus Ogilvie, Financial Director
  Stellar Diamonds Ltd
   
• “Met someone this morning who had heard various people say it was the best event organised by an African Government they had ever seen.”
  Anonymous member
  IFC
   
• William Fitzgerald, US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, said Washington was backing Koroma's efforts because his government had "made impressive strides creating the stability and investment environment required to achieve long-term economic growth.“
  'Stable' Sierra Leone appeals for foreign investment
  Associated Foreign Press, 19 Nov 2009
   
• Lord Stevenson said: “These are not philanthropic investments but a hard-headed pursuit of opportunities. We are in Sierra Leone because we see great returns there.”
  We are open for business, says Sierra Leone, David Robertson
  The Times, 19 Nov 2009
   
• "It's (Sierra Leone) got massive natural resources, wonderful possibilities commercially in agriculture, tourism, mining," Blair told The Associated Press on the sidelines of the conference. "What it's got now for the first time is a stable system of government with a president who genuinely wants to make change, root out corruption." Blair said, for example, that Sierra Leone had one of the biggest reserves of iron ore in the world, and had recently privatized its port, which could be used for exports off the west African coast. "Africa is a rich country with poor people — Sierra Leone is the clearest example of that," he said.
  UK’s Blair encourages investment in Sierra Leone
  Associated Foreign Press, 19 Nov 2009
   
• Reem Ibrahim Al Hashemi, the UAE Minister of State, was at the London conference to demonstrate the UAE's commitment to Sierra Leone. She said: "Your country has been through so much, but has great potential. We want to work with Sierra Leone in further expanding these opportunities and in humanitarian initiatives.“
  …
  Africa seems to specialise in false hope, but perhaps with the help of the UAE, the UK and other nations, Sierra Leone can succeed. By embracing open government and anti-corruption measures the country has a real shot at putting its past behind it.
  Sierra Leone is now open for business
  David Robertson, Emirates Business, 24 Nov 2009
   
• "I may have joked in the first part of this piece, but I must now be serious and inform you all, that the conference was great success
  …
  I was astounded at the number of development projects that are taking place in the country, and many of the international investors in the country spoke about the new climate for investors in the country. “
  The Sierra Leone Investment Forum: An Overview
  Arnold Awoonor-Gordon, The Patriotic Vanguard, 24 Nov 2009