The visit is in response to Sierra Leone President Ahmad Tajen Kabba's interest expressed during his visit to Bangladesh in October, according to foreign ministry sources.

He sought Dhaka's co-operation in agriculture sector and investment in different areas particularly ready-made garment (RMG) manufacturing to benefit from Freetown's duty and quota free access of goods to the US market.

Following Kabba's visit, Sierra Leone Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation Momodu Koroma wrote to the Bangladesh foreign ministry formally inviting a follow up visit, the sources said.

The Sierra Leone foreign minister stressed the importance of a visit by a high level team to assess the potentials of bilateral co-operation. He also guaranteed stable and enabling environment for any business venture and investment from Bangladesh.

FBCCI President Abdul Awal Mintoo is likely to lead the delegation.

"We are preparing for the visit but the schedule is yet to be finalised," Mintoo told The Daily Star.

Business leaders anticipate ample opportunities for joint ventures in various fields including leather, pharmaceuticals, jute goods and diamond cutting industry.

The agriculture experts say Bangladesh can provide technical know-how for producing high yielding varieties of rice, irrigation technique, preservation of seeds and developing agriculture fields.

Sierra Leone has vast untapped resources including minerals and 5.2 million hectares of fallow land.

Ties between Dhaka and Freetown were forged when Bangladesh took part in UN peace keeping operations in Sierra Leone about five years back. The Bangladesh contingent took part in the construction of some key civil and military installations in the country.

Several thousand Bangladeshi troops are stationed in the west African country for maintaining law and order and establishing discipline in the society.