Secures EU Partnership
Reported by: Prince Saah
Monrovia, Liberia – O. Natta B. Davis II, President of the Liberia Chamber of Commerce (LCC), has announced an ambitious roadmap aimed at transforming Liberia’s economy through innovation, local content development, and stronger public-private partnerships, in addition to announcing the signing of a major partnership with the European Union to support the country’s private sector.
Speaking at the Chamber’s annual business luncheon, “Liberia’s Next Economic Chapter: Innovation, Trade and Leadership for Economic Transformation”, Davis said that rather than focusing solely on exporting raw natural resources, Liberia must build an economy built on value addition, competitive local enterprises, and long-term job creation.
He stated that the Chamber has increased supplier development and local content initiatives over the past year to position Liberian businesses to benefit from both domestic and foreign investment opportunities. He noted that through its MSME Clinic and Young Business Leaders Platform, the LCC has expanded its support for entrepreneurs by providing business development services, technical assistance, and mentorship to startups.
Davis underlined that enhancing the nation’s business climate is still a top focus, emphasising the Chamber’s partnership with the judiciary to create an arbitration structure intended to improve business dispute resolution and increase investor confidence.
In a significant announcement, Davis disclosed that the Chamber would sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the European Union’s Private Sector Development Support Program, under which the EU will support the LCC in institutional strengthening, skills development, trade policy advocacy and facilitation, women and youth empowerment in trade, and revenue growth and sustainability.
In the future, Davis declared that the seventh Prosperity Africa Investment Forum will take place in Liberia in October 2026. The continental gathering is scheduled to bring senior government officials, investors, financial institutions, development partners, entrepreneurs, and business executives from across Africa and beyond to explore investment opportunities, regional commerce, innovation, and commercial collaborations. He emphasised that the meeting will advance the nation’s local content objective, boost local supply chains, and link Liberian companies with investors in order to go beyond policy debates.
Minister of State Without Portfolio Mamaka Bility, speaking on behalf of President Joseph N. Boakai, reiterated the government’s dedication to fostering an environment that is conducive to business through the ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development (AAID). According to Bility, the private sector is the driving force for economic change, and the government’s development program relies on closer cooperation with companies to boost investment, generate jobs, and boost productivity.
She applauded the Liberia Chamber of Commerce for pushing supplier development programs, particularly its Supplier Development Portal, which she said is helping Liberian businesses access corporate supply chains, concession opportunities, and public procurement markets. “The true measure of economic transformation is not simply the volume of investment attracted, but the number of Liberian businesses that grow, the quality jobs created, and the opportunities provided for our citizens to innovate and compete,” Bility said.
The Liberia Chamber of Commerce (LCC) is the oldest and most prominent private sector organization in the nation. The LCC is a strong advocate for policies that foster trade, business, industry, and agriculture, and it has a direct membership of more than 200 firms and eight business associations. It is the trusted voice of employers. The Chamber seeks to improve Liberia’s economic environment, provide members with opportunities, and encourage ethical business practices that promote the country’s growth.
The International Labour Organization (ILO), World Bank, International Finance Corporation (IFC), African Development Bank (AfDB), UNDP, GIZ, ECOWAS, Federation of West African Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FEWACCI), Mercy Corps, various diplomatic missions, and Government of Liberia ministries and agencies are just a few of the prominent national and international organizations with which the LCC maintains solid partnerships. These collaborations strengthen the Chamber’s role in policy advocacy, private sector development, and international cooperation.
