The Minister of Commerce & Industry (MoCI), Magdalene Dagoseh, says gender promotion at the Ministry will not be treated on a symbolic basis, but an operational necessity.  She said truth economic development cannot be realized without the active and collective participation of women and men.

She said such idea would be demonstrated through support to every policy, project and decision that will be made at the Ministry.

Madam Dagoseh pledged that the Ministry’s structured programs and strategies would reflect the diversity of the population she serves.

Minister Dagoseh made the statement Wednesday June 18, 2025, at the opening of a two-day capacity-building Workshop on Gender Integration and Inclusiveness on Trade Toward the Development of Liberia’s National Trade Policy.

She mentioned that cross border trade is a vital driver of economic activities in Liberia- assuring participants and partners of taking appropriate steps to tackle the challenges being experienced by women who are involved in trade.

Minister Dagoseh named some of the challenges as limited access to capital, information, transportation and secured market space. 

She told the gathering that such challenges are further amplified by informal practices, the lack of gender sensitive policies at the various borders.

She however observed that with the birth of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), there exists wider windows of opportunities for the country than ever before.

“This transformative agreement has the power to reduce tariffs, increase intra African trade and create a more inclusive economic environment,” she added.

She called for collective actions to strengthen the capacities of women by streamlining gender responsiveness, border patrol and unlimited systematic bureaucracies in order for women to benefit. She lauded the Ministry’s partners, including UN Women for their support.

For her part, UN Women Liberia Country Representative, Comfort Lamptey, hailed the Ministry of Commerce & Industry for its efforts in drafting a new gender-related policy.  In a statement read on her behalf by a staff of UN Women Liberia Office, Madam Lamptey noted that such policy would address critical issues around gender and inclusiveness.

“It is really important that we have a trade policy here in Liberia that speaks to women and vulnerable groups,” 

She urged fellow stakeholders to ensure that whatever is being done in trade should be inclusive- adding that more countries are now going from aid to trade.

“This is time now that we speak not only to the needs of men and women, but also to their contributions to their trade,” added the UN Women Liberia boss.

Also speaking, Deputy Gender, Children & Social Protection Minister Laura Golakeh, said the workshop was important because it brought to light a truth that is known to society.

Perhaps putting it simple, Madam Golakeh indicated that Liberia cannot grow and prosper when half of its population is left behind.

She observed that women in Liberia   play a major role in trade, especially in small businesses and informal markets.

Just as mentioned by previous speakers, she highlighted some of the challenges women go through while trading and called for collaboration to address them.