Monrovia, April 3, 2024 – The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) has concluded a three-day roadshow in Liberia in collaboration with the Ministry of Commerce and Industry of Liberia, Oakwood Green Africa, Loita Capital Partners International and Havit Inc..
The roadshow was aimed at bolstering Liberia’s efforts to grow trade. This follows a prior edition of the roadshow held in 2023.
Eric Monchu Intong, Afreximbank’s Anglophone West Africa Regional Chief Operating Officer, led a high-powered delegation to meet with the newly elected President, H.E. Joseph Boakai and other government officials to understand the country’s vision and how the Bank can support through promoting, facilitating and financing intra and extra-African trade.
The roadshow themed ’Advancing Economic Development in Liberia through Trade’ saw the bank hold bilateral meetings with Government officials, led by H.E. President Joseph Boakai, Minister of Finance and Development Planning, Hon. Boima S. Kamara, and four Deputy Ministers of Finance. Other participants included Hon. Amin Modad, Minister of Commerce & Industry and Mr. Aloysius Tarlue Junior, Governor of the Central Bank of Liberia.
The second roadshow focused on presentations to the government and Liberia’s private and public sectors with the aim of highlighting the Bank’s mandate, programmes and facilities which the country and businesses could leverage to achieve their trade and economic objectives.
Among these are the Afreximbank Trade Facilitation Facility (AFTRAF), Afreximbank Trade Payments Programme (AfPAY) and Afreximbank Trade Gateway (ATG), comprising Mansa Know Your Customer (KYC) repository, Pan African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS), Africa Trade Exchange (ATEX), Trade Intelligence and Trade Regulation Intelligence (TRADAR).
Over 200 participants from the government, private sector, business community and the public attended the successful roadshows.
Speaking at the event, Mr. Eric Monchu Intong, said: “We are very confident in Liberia’s new leadership and are pleased to work with President Joseph Boakai to fulfil his vision for the people of Liberia.”
“Since its inception Afreximbank has disbursed over US$200 million to Liberia in addition to financing the development of key infrastructural projects such as the Klay DC Clarke Road in Bomi County, the crucial 45-kilometre Capital City-Roberts International Airport Road that is under construction, and the Jahmale Medical Solution Centre.”
Earlier, in his opening remarks, the Central Bank of Liberia Governor, Aloysius Tarlue Junior, had commended Afreximbank for its contributions in availing infrastructural support to Liberia and acknowledged the Bank’s crucial role in Africa’s development.
Mr. Modad, Minister of Finance and Development Planning, highlighted the importance of trade for sustainable economic growth and expressed confidence that Afreximbank understood Liberia’s situation and the role it needed to play to support the country.
Anthony Myers, Deputy Minister in charge of Fiscal Affairs, in a keynote address on behalf of the Minister of Finance and Development Planning, urged Liberian businesses to take advantage of the roadshow to grow their businesses.
Statements were also made by representatives of Oakwood Green Africa, Loita Capital International Partners and Havit Inc., which partnered with Afreximbank in organising the roadshow. (GBN)
