Chief executive officer of investment climate facility for Africa (ICF) Omari Issa Wednesday signed an agreement with the government of Sierra Leone at the ministry of information and communication in Freetown.

ICF is a unique public-private partnership between government and business aimed at helping Africa create a more attractive business environment and realize its potential as a global player and trading partner.

Issa told a press briefing that his organization works to remove real and perceived obstacles to domestic and foreign investments by assisting Africans to prepare and promote the continent as an investment destination.

He said it was really a pleasure for him to be in Sierra Leone, adding that the country has a place in his heart.

"One of the focuses of ICF is to address issues of development and provide the expertise in breaking bottlenecks in setting up business in Africa," he said.

Issa stated that the President of Rwanda has lauded ICF for its initiative stating that the tiniest village in Kigali was mapped and computerized.

He said the project would run over five years and that people with land title would be able to obtain loans from the banks using their tittles.

The CEO said the first phase of the project involves mapping and computerizing of the country's system in a bid to empower the private sector.

Minister of lands and country planning Benjamin Davies said the ICF project was important for a post conflict country like Sierra Leone.

He said the issue of land in the country was a problem because the maps are archaic.

"The issue of land ownership is very important," he said adding that the first phase of the scheme would be implemented in the Western Area after which it would be extended to the provinces.

The minister assured his audience that the project would be implemented with visible results across the nation.

Minster of trade and industry Alimamy Koroma opined that the signing of the agreement was an innovation aimed at taking the country forward after years of war and political instability.

He pledged that his ministry would collaborate with the ministry of lands in order to ensure that the project is implemented.

"We must continue to engage ourselves for the project to impact the people of Sierra Leone," he said.

Koroma said: "World Bank has lauded the country as it has succeeded in breaking lots of bottlenecks in doing business in Sierra Leone."

Executive director Sierra Leone business forum Olumiyi Robbin-Coker said land registration was important because it would enable people acquire loans from banks in the country.

Private sector development, Robbin-Coker continued, would lead to overall development in the country.

Meanwhile, after the press conference the delegation from ICF paid a courtesy call on President Ernest Bai Koroma at State House where Omari Issa explained the rationale behind the project and what the country stands to benefit.