GANTA, Nimba — Aiming to assess and improve the business environment in Liberia, Commerce & Industry Minister Amin Modad initiated an unannounced tour of three counties in north and central Liberia on Tuesday.
The tour is part of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry’s broader strategy to empower local enterprises and stimulate economic activity outside the capital, Monrovia.
The minister’s itinerary included stops at Business Registration Centers in Margibi, Bong, and Nimba counties, where he and his team met with local officials and business owners to gauge market conditions and explore avenues for economic growth.
In Gbarnga, the administrative capital of Bong County, Minister Modad told journalists that the primary objective of the tour was to identify specific challenges facing local businesses and discuss ways to bolster commerce.
“We are here to evaluate the market environment and see what steps the government can take to improve the business climate,” Modad said after a visit to Gbarnga’s General Market, where he directly engaged with traders and entrepreneurs.
He added, “Our focus is on empowering the Liberian people by fostering an environment that supports small businesses and promotes job creation.”
Identifying County Strengths
During the tour, Modad emphasized the need to tailor economic development efforts to the unique strengths and comparative advantages of each county.
In Ganta, the commercial hub of Nimba County, the minister spoke to journalists about leveraging the county’s potential in agriculture & food processing, forestry, and mining as part of the government’s strategy to spur decentralized growth.
“For instance, Nimba is known for its fertile land and capacity for coffee and cocoa production,” he said.
“We need to build the county’s development around these comparative advantages to create jobs and improve the livelihoods of the people.”
He further stressed the importance of investing in young people and women, whom he called “the backbone of the President’s ARREST agenda.”
According to the minister, targeted support for these groups will be key to unlocking the potential of Liberia’s rural economies.
Addressing Commodity Prices
During the Ganta interaction with reporters, Minister Modad addressed concerns about commodity prices, particularly gasoline.
He acknowledged the challenges posed by global market fluctuations but assured reporters that the government has been working to stabilize prices in Liberia.
“For the past six months, we have seen a consistent downward trend in gasoline prices, and we are committed to continuing this trajectory,” Modad noted.
He added that while Liberia is not immune to global market conditions, the Ministry of Commerce is working to cushion the impact on Liberian consumers.
Boosting Local Participation in the Economy
Minister Modad also highlighted one of his administration’s key achievements: increasing Liberian participation in the country’s economy.
Since taking office, he has issued 12 permits for the importation of rice, all to Liberian-owned businesses, a key departure from past practices where foreign entities dominated essential imports.
“We want to decentralize economic activities and take them out of Monrovia,” Modad said. “The only way to do this is to fully understand what we inherited and build from there.”
Expanding Business Registration and Digitalization
As part of the tour, Minister Modad praised the increase in business registrations in Nimba, Bong, and Margibi counties over the last few months. He pledged to improve service delivery at the registration centers, announcing that the Liberia Business Registry is in the process of implementing a new digital registration system.
This digital system, according to Modad, is designed to reduce bureaucracy, curb corruption, and significantly shorten the time it takes for businesses to register. “By improving our human-to-human transactions, we will make it easier for businesses to start and grow, creating more jobs for Liberians,” he said.
Modad’s unannounced tour is seen as a practical move by an official of the Unity Party Government, which came into power with an ambitious agenda focused on economic empowerment.
As the minister continues his assessment of Liberia’s business climate, stakeholders in the counties are hopeful that the government’s initiatives will bring lasting changes, particularly for small businesses that have long struggled under challenging conditions.
“We are laying the groundwork for a more inclusive economy, one that provides opportunities for all Liberians,” Modad said.
The commerce minister emphasized the broader vision of the Boakai administration; he noted that President Boakai is determined to address the structural challenges hindering Liberia’s economic progress and ensure that the benefits of growth are shared widely across the country.
The minister was accompanied by a high-level delegation, including Hon. Benedict A. Dolo, Deputy Minister for Small Business Administration; Hon. Andrew Paygar-Flangiah, Deputy Minister for Industry; Hon. Patience Randall, Registrar General of the Liberia Business Registry (LBR); and Hon. D. Dorr Cooper, Inspector General of the Ministry of Commerce, and Chief of Office Staff, Mr. Alphanso Belleh.
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