State agency, national company or ministry executing the document
The Government of the Republic of Sierra Leone acting by each of the Ministries of Agriculture, Forestry and Food Security, Finance and Economic Development, Trade and Industry
Environmental impact assessment and management plan
The environmental license for the project will be granted to Genesis Farms Sierra Leone, subject to conditions only which are typical for an environmental license, no later than 4 weeks after the application is lodged unless: (a) it is withheld for one or more lawful reasons which are objectively reasonable under the relevant laws of the Republic of Sierra Leone; or (b) Genesis Farms Sierra Leone's environmental management plan (including ESIA) is not being implemented to a material extent and any of these reasons have been communicated to Genesis Farms Sierra Leone in written form by the appropriate body
The government agrees to enter into a water rights agreement with Genesis Farms Sierra Leone. Water shall be charged at 3 Leone per cubic meter of water extracted from rivers and other water courses. There shall be no restriction in the volume of water extracted by Genesis Farms Sierra Leone.
All plants, equipments and machinery shall be imported free of any duty and taxes (except for ECOWAS levy currently at 0.5% of CIF value) for any 5 years selected by the tax payer. Importation of all agricultural inputs shall not be subject to import duty for a period of 5 years from the date of commencement of business. Agricultural inputs include fertilizers, pesticides, insecticides, seeds and seedlings, hybrid tree seeds, day-old-chicks and animal semen. Importation of feeds, vaccine and veterinary drugs for livestock and poultry shall attract import duty free concessions for a period of 5 years from the date of commencement of business.
Financial obligations - community or commodity funds
Genesis Farms Sierra Leone shall establish a Genesis Farms Foundation when the first profits are realized, donated annually 5% of the after tax profits. The funds will be applied to promote corporate social responsibilities. These would include, but are not limited to: (a) out-grower scheme: support to farmers in the form of improved inputs, agric machinery, irrigation and processing facilities, marketing opportunities; (b) social infrastructure: construction/rehabilitation of educational, health, water and sanitation, recreational facilities, etc.; and (c) employment opportunities: managements, middle cadre and junior staff levels.
The chargeable business income of agricultural activities shall be exempt from corporation tax for a period of 10 years. This includes all activities such as rice farming, tree crop farming such as cocoa, coffee, rubber, and palm oil etc. from the date of commencement of such activity. 50% of dividend paid during the qualifying period will be exempt from withholding and other taxes. 5% of total income derived from export sales will be exempt from corporation tax after the qualifying period. All fixed assets shall be subject to capital allowance up to 40% as provided for in the Income Tax Act 2000 (as amended). An additional 5% investment allowance will be given on the procurement of any new qualifying asset and investment in each year of assessment.
The following allowable deductions shall be granted in respect of the following expenses in any year of assessment:
(a) research and development cost - 100%;
(b) training expenses and local staff - 100%;
(c) social and development expenses - 100%;
(d) expenses on promoting exports - 100%; and
(e) expenses incurred in engaging disable persons including salaries - 200%
Genesis Farms Sierra Leone agrees to permit tendering by local suppliers of relevant ancillary services, such as transportation, input suppliers, warehousing, engineering and shipping, from time to time on such terms and conditions as Genesis Farms Sierra Leone shall reasonably specify
The government supports the development of small farmer production and nucleus/out grower schemes.
Genesis Farms Sierra Leone envisages to:
- develop a best practice for small farmers and to actively support them with production and marketing of their produce;
- develop a model farm, with a concise site in Makomp to serve as central centre for research to train staff and to raise seedlings and two or three small/medium sized farming sites at various locations in rural areas in the Northern Province. The first farm is located in Masimera, Masimera Chiefdom; and
- support other farmers through the centre in Makomp by means of out growers system or a similar structure.
Funds from the genesis Farms Foundation will be applied to the outgrower scheme to provide support to farmers in the form of improved inputs, agric machinery, irrigation and processing facilities, and marketing opportunities.
Social/human rights impact assessment and management plan
The environmental license for the project will be granted to Genesis Farms Sierra Leone, subject to conditions only which are typical for an environmental license, no later than 4 weeks after the application is lodged unless: (a) it is withheld for one or more lawful reasons which are objectively reasonable under the relevant laws of the Republic of Sierra Leone; or (b) Genesis Farms Sierra Leone's environmental management plan (including ESIA) is not being implemented to a material extent and any of these reasons have been communicated to Genesis Farms Sierra Leone in written form by the appropriate body
Genesis Farms Sierra Leone will make the obtained knowledge and experience available as contribution to the food security position of Sierra Leone. Genesis Farms Sierra Leone will erect an educational, resource centre for this purpose and for training purposes.
Genesis Farms Sierra Leone envisages to develop a model farm, with a concise site in Makomp to serve as central centre for research to train staff and to raise seedlings and two or three small/medium sized farming sites at various locations in rural areas in the Northern Province. The first farm is located in Masimera, Masimera Chiefdom.
Genesis Farms Sierra Leone agrees to meet all project-related infrastructure capital costs anticipated in the business plan, including but not limited to land clearance, earth moving, road construction and improvement, installation of processing plants and irrigation network and systems, factory installation and fit-out and related civil works, residential and social infrastructures
The government confirms that Genesis Farms Sierra Leone will be granted all the required permits and other authorizations in connection with the project and its funding provided that Genesis Farms Sierra Leone complies with all published requirements of the Laws of the Republic of Sierra Leone in relation to such permits or authorizations, the details of which are generally available to the public in Sierra Leone
All disputes shall be referred to and finally resolved by arbitration in London before three arbitrators under the Rules of Arbitration of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) from time to time in force. Genesis Farms Sierra Leone and the government shall each nominate an arbitrator in the request for arbitration or answer as the case may be not later than 14 days after service of a written request by either party to do so. Genesis Farms Sierra Leone and the government must then seek to agree on and nominate a third arbitrator to act as chairman within 14 days after confirmation of the second arbitrator's appointment. Failing agreement between Genesis Farms Sierra Leone and the government, the two arbitrators already appointed must within 14 days nominate the third arbitrator. If Genesis Farms Sierra Leone or the government fail to nominate an arbitrator or the two arbitrators already appointed fail to nominate the chairman, the appointments shall be made by the ICC Court of Arbitration. Genesis Farms Sierra Leone and the government may not appeal to any court on a question of law arising out of an award in the arbitration. Genesis Farms Sierra Leone and the government irrevocably waive any rights of appeal they might otherwise have had. The award shall be final and binding on Genesis Farms Sierra Leone and the government or anyone claiming through or under them.
The government agrees that it will not, nor attempt to, nationalize, expropriate or confiscate all or any part of the assets or rights of Genesis Farms Sierra Leone, its subcontractor or other respective contractors or any other party to the documents relevant to the development, operation and funding of the project of the share capital of Genesis Farms Sierra Leone other than on the basis of full compensation (including loss of profit) to the affected parties, including an amount not less than that required to repay all principles, interest, fees, costs and expenses amounts outstanding to the funders under or pursuant to the funding documents
The contract is governed and shall be construed in accordance with the laws of the Republic of Sierra Leone and is intended to be legally binding on Genesis Farms Sierra Leone and the government
The government:
(a) acknowledges that the execution, performance and delivery by Genesis Farms Sierra Leone or the government of this contract shall constitute a private commercial transaction entered into entirely in Genesis Farms Sierra Leone's, or the government's, commercial capacity;
(b) agrees that should any other party bring legal proceedings against it or its assets in relation to this contract, no immunity from such legal proceedings shall be claimed by or on behalf of itself other than in respect of government buildings located in Sierra Leone or buildings forming part of a diplomatic or consular mission except to the extent necessary to effect service of legal process).
Those shareholders, affiliates and others referred to in the appendix as having the benefit of a right, entitlement, discretion or the benefit of an obligation by the government shall have direct benefit of such right, entitlement or, as the case may be, discretion and to enforce such obligation under the contract.
If any change of law in Sierra Leone has a material adverse effect on the ability of Genesis Farms Sierra Leone or its contractors, sub-contractors, shareholders or funders to perform their respective obligations relevant to the development, operation or funding of the project or the cost of, or return from, so doing, the government undertakes, after taking into account the benefits of the change in law, to grant to the project and the above actors any exemption or license or other authorization necessary or desirable to ensure that their interests, rights, obligations and economic return are not materially adversely affected