Government of Liberia and the People’s Republic of China, on Saturday, September 7, held a one-day Trade Forum in Shenzhen City – China’s “Silicon Valley” and its third most populated city after Shanghai and Beijing where Liberia presented several investment opportunities in the areas of tourism, trade, agriculture among others.

The Forum was hosted by the Embassy of the Republic of Liberia (Beijing) in collaboration with the Foreign Affairs Office of Shenzhen Municipal Government with support from the African Department of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Ministry.

“China and Liberia Cooperating in Building a High-Level China Africa Community with a Shared Future in the Spirit of FOCAC”, was the Forum’s theme where dozens of Chinese investors attended along an array of Liberian government officials led by His Excellency President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr.

President Boakai, in luring Chinese investments to Liberia said, “We bring to you opportunities because you have the expertise to help us. We believe in people-to-people relationship. We are here to build a country that continues to remain friendly. We need technology; we need investment so that you will begin to see the true Liberia".

He assured that Liberia would be a destination for investors. “By investing with us and unleashing our potential, we all can become a world in which we will create opportunities”.

“One of Liberia’s greatest assets is the people of Liberia – our generosity, good nature and friendliness to work with investors", President Boakai asserted.

In making the country’s investment case, Liberia’s Ambassador to China, D. McKinley Thomas said, "China and Liberia are friends; and now, it is time to see how we can work together, how we can find opportunities to invest; find exchanges not only economically, but also culturally through people-to-people relations for shared prosperity".

At the Forum, China conveyed its readiness to work and partner with Liberia in many areas for cooperation and investments.

The Deputy Director General, Foreign Affairs Office of the Shenzen Municipality, Richard Zhong: "So, it’s an honor to have the President and delegation in Shenzhen. The Shenzhen Municipality is ready to work with Liberia in the areas of economic partnership, energy support through power generation and infrastructural development. We must work very hard to help each other."

The Minister of Information, Cultural Affairs and Tourism, Jerolinmek Matthew Piah, in setting the stage for the forum, presented Liberia's national development plan - the ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development and highlighted Liberia's tourism investment potentials.

Minister Piah said, "Liberia’s tourism strengths lie in cultural, surf, eco, and marine tourism, bird watching, among others which we are endowed”.

Agriculture Minister, J Alexander Nuetah, called on Chinese investors to come to Liberia and invest in the development of agricultural value chain - poultry, livestock, food crops including the country's staple food and horticulture production, agribusiness development and agricultural financing.

He said Liberia has excellent opportunities, incentives for investments through access to land, and incentives to support investments.

Commerce Minister, Amin Modad, "Liberia is a nation of immense business opportunities and we welcome credible partners interested in doing business in a secured and enabling environment.

The Government of Liberia is focusing on supporting domestic economic empowerment of the Liberian business community and entrepreneurs as well as creating an enabling environment for foreign investments.

Minister Modad disclosed that while Liberia is a net importer of commodities, the expertise and partnership with China are needed to expand commercial trade and industrial sector, noting, “In 2023, Liberia imported nearly $10 billion worth of commodities from China; and in reverse, only $85 million was exported from Liberia to China”.

The well-attended Forum ended with commitments from Chinese investors to visit Liberia soon to identify key areas for possible investments.