On September 23, 2025, the International Finance Corporation (IFC) signed a US$24 million loan agreement with MACCEM Industries Limited to fund a new cement grinding plant in Freetown, Sierra Leone. The facility, with an annual capacity of 657,000 tons, will meet 65% of the country’s cement demand, reduce reliance on imports, stabilize prices, and create over 4,000 jobs. The financing includes US$12 million from IFC and US$12 million from the IDA20 IFC-MIGA Blended Finance Facility, incorporatin