Monrovia, Liberia December 18, 2014, the Vice President of the Republic of Liberia, His Excellency Joseph Nyumah Boakai, launched the Ministry of Commerce and Industry’s Trade Store, named “The Liberian Market Place.”

Speaking to dignitaries and international guests at the official launching program, Vice President Boakai called on local producers to produced value added goods. He further stated that the launch of the “Trade Store” is a clear demonstration of the government’s commitment to the development of entrepreneurs’ capacity.

The Trade Store which will foster the promotion of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and increase access to markets to further the MSME policy for inclusive growth, is an initiative of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry in collaboration with the Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF), with support from the Government of Japan through Innovation Fund Initiative, Firestone and Chevron Liberia.

In keeping with the Ministry`s rebranding agenda to foster inclusive and equitable growth, all commodities exhibited in the Liberian Marketplace are products made in Liberia by Liberian entrepreneurs. The initiative creates linkages between Liberian suppliers and buyers by nurturing new opportunities for partnerships while building the capacity of MSMEs to meet quality standards. It is a public private partnership being managed by Falama Incorporated with oversight by the Ministry to ensure all standards of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) are met.

The Ministry encourages the public to support this initiative and buy Liberian products, because in doing so, we will be promoting Liberia entrepreneurs. All sales from the store will go to the MSME vendors and management of the store for maintenance and operational purposes.