Tuesday: September 3, 2019: The Ministry of Commerce and Industry and a delegation from the Confederation General of Companies of Cote d’Ivoire (CGECI) have begun discussions intended to build links amongst Ivorian private businesses and their Liberian counterparts.

CGECI, an Ivorian private sector organization, covers about eight percent fiscal revenue of Ivory Coast and has a membership of more than 3,500 companies.
The plan of the group, according to its Executive Director, Stephane AKA-Anghui, is to organize a business forum each year.

Mr. Anghui, speaking recently during a meeting with authorities of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry said they organized the first meeting in Guinea few years ago and wanted another one held,  at which time his organization, by consensus selected  Liberia as their first choice on the list.

Mr. Anghui said while in Liberia, members of his delegation held discussions with relevant ministries and agencies of the Liberian Government, including the Ministries of   Finance and Development Planning and Transport, Liberia Chamber of Commerce, National Investment Commission and Liberia Business Association.

As part of efforts to further cement these ongoing discussions aimed at promoting the mission of the Confederation General of Companies of Cote d’Ivoire (CGECI), a business forum has been planned to take place in Liberia on November 22, 2019.

According to Mr. Anghui, the first time they wanted the meeting held in Liberia was in 2018, but noted that the gathering cloud not take place because they were informed that President George Weah, along with key officials from the line ministries and agencies was going to New York for the   United Nations General Assembly.

He lauded the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, including other relevant agencies of government, with which similar discussions were held for the fruitful nature of the meetings, as well as the warm reception accorded him and delegation.
 

For his part, Deputy Commerce Minister for Administration, Wilfred Bangura, lauded Mr. Anhui and team for choosing Liberia for the November 2019 Meeting.  Mr. Bangura, who deputized for Commerce and Industry Ministry, Prof. Wilson K. Tarpeh, told the group that Liberia has a host of attractive possibilities, relative to the business climate.

Besides, he informed the Ivorian business team that Liberia has established a Specialized Industrial Zone on several acres of land   in Grand Bassa County.

“The President is setting up the board to manage that Zone, you can also look at power and then you can have beautiful Industrial Complex.” Mr. Bangura observed.
He also said the existence of similarities between Liberia and Ivory Coast, to include culture and language will undoubtedly make it very easy for the two sides to interact in the business sector.

 The Deputy Commerce Minister for Administration equally spoke about Ivory Coast’s capacity to undertake meaningful investment in Liberia, making reference to the West African Power Pool project, being enjoyed by some counties in Liberia.

Meanwhile, buttressing his colleague, Assistant Commerce Minister for Administration, Alphonso S. Kuiah, Jr. commended the Ivorian business delegation for its expressed interest to do business in Liberia.

Mr. Kuiah however noted that Liberia looks forward to balanced business interactions with other countries and organizations through the value added approach.

Jacob N.B. Parley
Communications Director
Emails: jparley@staffmoci.gov.lr
jacobtheancestor@yahoo.com
Contacts: 0886560455/0777604576
Whatsapps: 0881336137