Monrovia-Liberia May 19, 2015

In 2008, the government of Liberia through a bilateral agreement with the Government and people of Japan entered an agreement to address Liberia’s food security challenge. The initiative was intended to support Liberia’s food security needs.

In his welcome remarks, Deputy Minister for Commerce & Trade, Mr. Cyril Allen, II thanked the Japanese Government for their donation and presented several projects that have been funded by the grant. They include:

• Phase I and II of the paddy seed rice project;
• The construction of five warehouses to handle the post-harvest storage problem experienced by local farmers;
• The ongoing construction of 3 Bridges in rural Grand Cape Mount County
• The Liberian Innovation Fund for Entrepreneurs (LIFE FUND).

Agriculture Minister, Dr. Florence Chenoweth speaking during the program stressed the impact of the Program on the whole cycle of rice production in the Country.  She commended the Japanese Government for their support, especially during the recent health crisis and said that, the Ministry of Agriculture was fully committed to the implementation of the paddy rice project.

Receiving the donation on behalf of the Liberian Government, Commerce Minister Hon. Axel M. Addy commended the people of Japan for their support to Liberia’s economic recovery and encouraged Liberian consumer to take advantage to the high quality and reasonable price of the Japanese donated rice.

Also speaking at the occasion, Japanese Ambassador to Liberia His ExcellencyKaoru Yoshimura expressed his joy over the manner in which funds generated from Japanese food aid to Liberia have been expended by the Liberian government. Ambassador Yoshimura said that the handover ceremony is not the end to the aid but rather the beginning ofnew development process.

The turning over ceremony was attended by representatives from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, the Ministries of Agriculture, Foriegn, Public Works and Representatives from the Liberia private sector