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Sierra Leone, officially the Republic of Sierra Leone, is a country in West Africa. The economy of Sierra Leone is that of a least developed country[1] with a GDP of approximately US$1.9 billion in 2009.[2] Since the end of the civil war in 2002 the economy is gradually recovering with a GDP growth rate between 4 and 7%.[2] In 2008 its GDP in PPP ranked between 147th (World Bank) and 153rd (CIA) largest in the world.[3] Sierra Leone's economic development has always been hampered by an overdependence on mineral exploitation. Successive governments and the population as a whole have always believed that "diamonds and gold" are sufficient generators of foreign currency earnings and lure for investment. As result large scale agriculture of commodity products, industrial development and sustainable investments have been neglected by governments. The economy could thus be described as based upon the extraction of unsustainable resources or non-reusable assets. Sierra Leone is a member of the WTO.
Notable firms
[edit]This list includes notable companies with primary headquarters located in the country. The industry and sector follow the Industry Classification Benchmark taxonomy. Organizations which have ceased operations are included and noted as defunct.
Name | Industry | Sector | Headquarters | Founded | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Afrik Air Links | Consumer services | Airlines | Freetown | 1991 | Private airline, defunct 2005 |
Air Leone | Consumer services | Airlines | Lungi | 1999 | Regional airline, defunct 2005 |
Air Rum | Consumer services | Airlines | Amman (Jordan)[4] | 2002 | Chartered airline, defunct 2008 |
Bank of Sierra Leone | Financials | Banks | Freetown | 1963 | Central bank |
Bellview Airlines | Consumer services | Airlines | Freetown | 1995 | Airline, defunct 2008 |
Fly 6ix | Consumer services | Airlines | Lungi | 2010 | Airline |
Paramount Airlines | Consumer services | Airlines | Freetown | 2001 | Helicopter services, defunct 2007 |
Rokel Commercial Bank | Financials | Banks | Freetown | 1917 | Commercial bank |
SALPOST | Industrials | Delivery services | Freetown | 1961 | Postal services |
Sierra Leone Brewery Limited | Consumer goods | Brewers | Freetown | 1963 | Brewery, part of Heineken (Netherlands) |
Sierra Leone Commercial Bank | Financials | Banks | Freetown | 1973 | Commercial bank |
Sierra National Airlines | Consumer services | Airlines | Freetown | 1990 | Airline, defunct 2006 |
Union Trust Bank | Financials | Banks | Freetown | 1995 | Commercial bank
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Shopping mall in Kenema.
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Sierra Leone Airlines Boeing 707 at London Gatwick Airport (May 1983).
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A Paramount Airlines Mil Mi-8 at Freetown Lungi Airport, arriving from Mammy Yoko Heliport in Freetown.
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ United Nations OHRLLS. Least Developed Countries: Country profiles Archived 2010-03-17 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 2010-03-24.
- ^ a b (in German) German Foreign Office. Country Information Sierra Leone - Economy Partly citing the Economist Intelligence Unit. Retrieved 2010-03-24.
- ^ List of countries by GDP (PPP)
- ^ Note: Registered and solely operated in Sierra Leone.