By By: Domingo Dargbeh
Congo Town, Monrovia– At long last, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry has officially launched the 2024 MSME Conference and Trade Fair under the theme, “From Vision to Implementation”.
Speaking at the opening of the conference in Congo Town on Tuesday, December 10, 2024, Acting Commerce Minister Scholastica Nimely stated that the Micro, Small, and Medium-Sized Enterprise (MSME) Conference and Trade Fair is a flagship event of the Ministry.
The Acting Minister disclosed that the Ministry hosted the MSME events annually from 2013 to 2017. However, over the past six years, the conference was not held under the George Weah-led administration.
The conference brought together over 700 stakeholders, including policymakers, government officials, members of the diplomatic corps, civil society actors, NGO partners, and representatives from multilateral institutions.
Minister Nimely revealed that in June 2024, the Livelihood Project graduated 50 youths who had been trained in 2023 by the Liberia National Tailors, Textiles, Garment, and Allied Workers Union, Inc. (LNTTGAWU). The project also donated 50 new sewing machines to the graduates to enable them to start livelihood activities after their training.
Additionally, the project transferred USD 45,000 to 45 women in the textile industry and another USD 45,000 to 90 persons living with disabilities in the form of grants to help them start or improve their businesses, she added.
The Minister further noted that the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, in collaboration with UNDP, installed and commissioned two 40-ft solar-powered prefab containers for the Liberia Vegetable Sellers Association at the Omega Market. This initiative aims to mitigate the challenges of post-harvest loss and waste among SMEs in the agriculture sector.
Also speaking on behalf of President Joseph Boakai, Director of the Cabinet Nathaniel Kwabo pledged the government’s support for fostering an environment that nurtures innovation, growth, and sustainability. He stated:
“We aim to support MSMEs in Liberia and strengthen their presence both domestically and globally, while actively attracting Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) that aligns with the government’s development goals.
By fostering innovation within agriculture and its commercialization, we aim to open new economic opportunities and lift communities out of poverty. Infrastructure, particularly roads, is essential to connecting people, enhancing trade, and improving living standards across Liberia.”
He further emphasized the government’s commitment to environmental protection, ensuring that economic growth does not come at the expense of the country’s natural resources.
