By By: Alphanso G. Kalama
alphansokalama@gmail.com
0776459784/ 0555716152
Monrovia, Liberia — The National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority (NaFAA) has reaffirmed its diplomatic and technical partnership with the People’s Republic of China during a high-level visit to Chinese Ambassador Yin Chengwu at the Chinese Embassy near Monrovia.
Led by NaFAA’s senior leadership, headed by J. Cyrus Saygbe Sr., the visit underscored a renewed commitment to restoring Liberia’s fisheries sector through targeted cooperation, capacity-building, and the adoption of innovative technologies. The delegation extended the Liberian Government’s appreciation for China’s longstanding support, particularly in fisheries development, while outlining a clear vision for revitalized collaboration.
Central to the discussions were the adoption of advanced Chinese aquaculture technologies, the potential flagging of additional Chinese vessels to strengthen Liberia’s national fleet, and the creation of robust training programs to upgrade the technical proficiency of NaFAA staff. The talks also touched on rebuilding a once-strong partnership that had, in recent years, seen a notable decline.
A standout moment of the meeting came when Ambassador Yin Chengwu announced the awarding of five academic scholarships to NaFAA—a tangible and symbolic gesture of the renewed alliance. This development was hailed by NaFAA officials as a significant milestone in their broader effort to reposition the Authority as a driver of growth, reform, and innovation in Liberia’s fisheries and aquaculture sector.
NaFAA’s leadership emphasized that today’s engagement is part of a larger push to restore credibility and reestablish partnerships with key international stakeholders. Under the current administration, the agency is on a mission to shift from stagnation to transformation, leveraging diplomacy and technical cooperation to modernize one of Liberia’s most promising economic sectors.
“The NaFAA we met is not the NaFAA we are transforming,” Acting DG Saygbe declared, capturing the spirit of its renewed direction.
Today’s visit not only reopened critical channels of communication between NaFAA and the Chinese Government but also set the tone for a future rooted in collaboration, innovation, and sustainable development.
