Monrovia, Liberia – On Thursday, 14 April 2016, in line with the Government plan to diversify the economy and promote Agricultural Value Chains (AVC), the Ministry of Commerce and Industry and Ministry of Agriculture invited fisheries stakeholders to a sector working group meeting geared towards streamlining export and import procedures, bringing transparency in the fee and fine structure, and providing support for the domestic private sector. The meeting also sought to put in a place a doable plan of action to facilitate to woo private investment in a sector that is closely linked with poverty reduction.

The private sector, as well as, regulators, such as, the Bureau of National Fisheries, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, and the Ministry of Agriculture, attended the meeting. The meeting, which was chaired by the Deputy Minister for Commerce-Designate, Honorable Steve Marvie, also showcased presentations from Enisul, the sole industrial fishing company in Liberia, Bureau of National Fisheries, and the Ministry of Agriculture.

Enisul introduced their business model of working with Wesco to purchase fish from local fishermen in Robertsport, while the Bureau of National Fisheries presented on the licensing and trade regulations required to regulate the fisheries sector. The Ministry of Agriculture presented on the importance of coordination under the Liberia Agriculture Transformation Agenda (LATA) framework and the link with the Agriculture Task Force.

The Honorable Minister of Commerce and Industry, Honorable Axel M. Addy made a special presentation during the meeting encouraging importers to forge greater partnership with the domestic private sector and assist with information that would help to improving the fisheries business climate.

MoCI and MoA have set up a technical team, with assistance from the Tony Blair AGI staff, Hendrike Braun, to ensure that the licensing regime, as well as, trade procedures are streamlined. Both Ministries is also drafting an Expression of Interest to share with the World Bank regarding the fishing facility being constructed by the World Bank, and there is a process underway to transform the current business plan for the Mesurado Pier into a Feasibility Study to attract the right investment for the Pier.