Monrovia, Liberia – Liberia’s Foreign Minister, H. E. Sara Beysolow Nyanti, hosted a high-level team from the Republic of Burkina Faso in an attempt to generate jobs for women and youth in the country. A major advancement in bilateral collaboration, the visit aims to boost Liberia’s textile sector and increase employment opportunities for local cotton producers. The team concluded a three-day evaluation tour of Lofa County, paying special attention to Kolahun District, which they recognized as a key location for the growth of the regional textile sector.
Among the members of the visiting team were Mr. Emilien Ouedraogo, Liberia’s point of contact in Burkina Faso, who is instrumental in promoting bilateral investment and trade; Mr. Justin Kouanda, the creator of a large-scale weaving machine whose cutting-edge technology has the potential to transform Liberia’s textile and apparel sector; and Mr. Minadofini, a skilled trainer in weaving, dyeing, and loom adjustment whose abilities could foster the growth of local talent and help create jobs in Liberia’s manufacturing and crafts industries.
Mr. Ouedraogo stressed the value of intra-African investment throughout the visit. “Africa’s development must begin with Africans investing in the continent,” he said. “We need to develop industry, use our resources wisely, and give our citizens long-term jobs.”
He said that in addition to more training in textile weaving, 15 people will receive training to manufacture the weaving machine domestically. With an emphasis on empowering women, the project seeks to increase production using locally produced machinery.
J. Levalah Massaquoi, the superintendent of Lofa County, emphasized the importance of the visit pointing out that Kolahun has long been acknowledged as a premier cotton-growing area with significant potential to advance Liberia’s textile sector.
In order to boost the industry and guarantee that nearby cotton farmers gain from more demand and improved market accessibility, he stated that the county has been aggressively looking for partners.
“By designating Kolahun as a crucial cotton-producing region, the government has fulfilled its obligation. We are finally seeing returns from our continued efforts to draw in investment,” Superintendent Massaquoi said.
“The Burkinabé delegation’s visit demonstrates our dedication to bolstering Liberia’s textile sector,” he continued.
The head of the Kolahun Women’s Center, Mrs. Mary Kpoto, conveyed her gratitude for the installation of a weaving machine prototype. She promised to make prudent use of the tools for Kolahun’s development. Mrs. Kpoto also thanked President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr. for his support of the effort and Minister Sara Beysolow Nyanti for organizing the visit.
The group spoke with regional stakeholders, community leaders, and cotton producers in the area as part of their evaluation. Using local raw resources, developing a sustainable value chain for the industry, and the viability of setting up a textile production plant in Kolahun were the main topics of discussion.
The group conveyed hope on the investment climate in Lofa County, emphasizing the necessity of capacity building, infrastructural upgrades, and governmental support to guarantee the initiative’s success. Additionally, they underlined their readiness to work with the Liberian government and other relevant parties in order achieve the goal of a flourishing textile sector in Kolahun.
The Burkinabé delegation’s visit is a positive step toward reviving the textile sector as Liberia continues to advocate for greater foreign direct investment and economic diversification. For the benefit of nearby cotton farmers and the larger Liberian economy, the National Investment Commission (NIC) and its partners have shown dedication to converting this engagement into real financial gains.
Mr. Pewee S. Reed, Senior Economic and Policy Advisor at the National Investment Commission (NIC), attended the session. The three Burkinabé delegates were dressed in traditional costumes by the Kolahun ladies as a sign of respect and reverence.
