Monrovia, Liberia – August 1, 2024 – H.E. Wamkele Mene, Secretary-General of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), held a significant audience with President H.E. Joseph N. Boakai during his official visit to Liberia. President Boakai informed the Secretary-General that Liberia had completed its internal ratification process for the AfCFTA agreement. H.E. Mene commended this milestone as a critical step that underscores Liberia’s strong political commitment to the economic integration of the African continent.

Before his meeting with the President, H.E. Mene engaged in discussions with Liberia’s Minister of Commerce and Industry (MOCI), Honourable Amin Modad, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. These discussions focused on Liberia’s participation in the African single market for goods and services, with particular attention to developing and participating in regional value chains, especially in the automotive industry and agriculture—sectors identified as having significant potential. The Minister and the Secretary-General agreed to collaborate on technical aspects, including capacity building and sensitizing the private sector to the opportunities created by the AfCFTA.

The visit concluded with a roundtable discussion with Liberia’s private sector, where H.E. Mene engaged with representatives from the Liberia Chamber of Commerce (LCC) and the Liberia Business Association (LIBA). He highlighted the opportunities for local companies to expand their businesses across the African continent and detailed the instruments established by the AfCFTA Secretariat to operationalize the agreement. The discussion also emphasized the importance of value addition in critical growth sectors such as agriculture and automotive, aiming to boost Liberia’s participation in intra-African trade. Economic operators present, including women and young entrepreneurs, were also informed about the various tools available to them under the AfCFTA to enhance trade and investment opportunities.

Throughout his visit, H.E. Mene expressed optimism about Liberia’s future within the AfCFTA and reiterated the Secretariat’s commitment to working closely with the country to unlock the full benefits of the agreement.