The Ministry of Commerce & Industry in Collaboration with ECOWAS will on April 8, 2014 launch awareness on Economic Partnership Agreement in Monrovia. The Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) is aimed at creating reciprocity through the establishment of Free Trade Areas (FTA), which conform to the regulation of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and to build on regional integration process in the African Caribbean Pacific (ACP) countries.

The objective of the Economic Partnership Agreement Development Program (EPADP) implementation plan is to identify the following issues:

• Building the capacity of the West Africa region and countries, including state institutions;
• Supporting vital and promising sectors to unleash their potentials to contribute optimally to the development of the countries and the region;
• Developing the export capacities of the region and regional member states to maximize the benefits from access to European markets;
• Protecting sensitive products and sensitive industries from the potential adverse effects of trade liberalization, and carefully pacing and sequencing the opening of the West African region’s markets;
• Concluding a free trade agreement that will allow for the growth of the agricultural sector and agro-industrialization and the development of agricultural exports.

The Ministry of Commerce & Industry has put together this concept to raise awareness, through the provision of accurate information on EPA. This information awareness campaign will be led by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. The Ministry will bring together stakeholders in the private sector; particularly the Liberia Chambers of Commerce (LCC), Liberia Business Association (LIBA), the Liberia Marketing Association and the Lebanese Cultural Union of Liberia.  The Ministry will also undertake a one day symposium at the Krystal Ocean View Hotel on April 8, 2014 from 8:30–5:00PM. The program will be graced by reputable statesmen, economists and diplomats who will participate in the one day symposium aimed at promoting the significance of the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA).