The session opened at 16:30 with an introductory speech by H.E. Ambassador M'Baimba Lamin Baryoh, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Sierra Leone to the Federal Republic of Germany. Later, the Minister Nabeela Farida Tunis, Minister of Tourism and Cultural Affairs of Sierra Leone  and former Minister of Foreign Affairs and former Minister of Planning and Economic Development, delivered the keynote address on the theme "2026 Year of Culture and Creativity for Sierra Leone." Foday Jallon, Director of Culture, Creativity and Innovation at the Ministry of Tourism and Culture, also contributed to the session, addressing the role of culture and creativity in national development. Together, the three representatives offered a comprehensive account of Sierra Leone's cultural and economic ambitions on the international stage.

The keynote by Minister Tunis centred on Sierra Leone's government declaration of 2026 as the Year of Culture and Creativity, an initiative announced on 29 December 2025 and designed to position culture and creative enterprise as central pillars of national cohesion, peace, and inclusive economic growth. Building on the momentum of the country's 2025 Year of Ecotourism, the 2026 initiative affirms the government's long-term vision for sustainable tourism and national development. Under the leadership of President Julius Maada Bio, the declaration has been described as a national statement of identity, rooted in Sierra Leone's resilience, innovation, and cultural diversity. The year-long initiative recognises the vital role of the country's traditions, languages, music, arts, and creative skills in shaping its future, and calls upon Sierra Leoneans as well as international partners to actively participate in unlocking new opportunities for the country.

The Berlin Economic Forum 2026 session, also provided a platform to discuss opportunities for international cooperation in culture, tourism, and sustainable economic development. Sierra Leone's participation in the Forum is consistent with a broader pattern of active international cultural engagement in early 2026. In February, the Ministry of Tourism and Cultural Affairs hosted a three-day Culture and Creativity Weekend Getaway at Sulima Beach, drawing national attention to one of the country's most underexplored coastal destinations and reinforcing the government's commitment to community-centred tourism development.

Sierra Leone's participation in the Berlin Economic Forum 2026 reflects the country's growing engagement with the international community on questions of culture-led development and sustainable tourism. By presenting the 2026 Year of Culture and Creativity to a global audience of diplomats, economists, and business professionals in the ICD, the Sierra Leone delegation reinforced the country's readiness to translate its cultural assets into concrete opportunities for bilateral and multilateral cooperation. As culture increasingly serves as a strategic instrument of diplomacy and economic development, Sierra Leone's presence at the Forum underscores its commitment to positioning itself as an active and forward-looking partner in the international arena.

• https://www.linkedin.com/posts/institute-for-cultural-diplomacy_berlineconomicforum-culturaldiplomacy-yemen-activity-7435694827977105409-hPpT?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAFlymI0BKrIDYV9r3-olSjNb9n5E1wQmyF8
• https://businessday.ng/life/article/2026-sierra-leones-year-of-culture-creativity-amid-ecotourism-drive/
• https://ayvnews.com/sulima-culture-creativity-weekend-boosts-tourism-drive/