The Ministry of Commerce and Industry has rejected speculations and media reports, insinuating that it is bent on commercializing the issuance of Import Declaration Permits (IPDs) in the country.

Acting Commerce and Industry Minister, Mr.  A.E.  Nyema Wisner said the allegations and reports are far from the reality.

Mr. Wisner noted that from the birth of the IPD process   in 1986 during the administration of slain Liberian President, Samuel Kanyan Doe, the IPDs used to be sold.
He said the sale of the IPDs continued up to the administration of former Liberian leader, Madam, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, when then Commerce and Industry Ministry, Madam Miata Beyslow, abolished the sale of all Import Declaration Permits(IPDs) in the country.

He said the decision was taken because BIVAC took control of the issuance of IPDs to business houses and individuals without money being charged.

Mr. Wisner said IPDs are obtained; not only at the Commerce Ministry, but other line agencies and ministries of the Liberian government and that there has not been any proven report  of the IPD process being commercialized, as speculated.

He named the institutions as the Ministries of Finance and Agriculture and the Liberia Revenue Authority.

He said contrary to reports of IPDs being sold, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, has been making frantic efforts to make the IPD process  effective and time-friendly in  line with government’s efforts  to meet the growing demands of the public, especially those in the business sector.

Mr. Wisner said the Ministry of Commerce and Industry has been making great strides in the issuance of IPDs by reducing the time initially taken in the past  to obtain them  from 78 to 12 hours.

The Acting Commerce Minister also noted that additional efforts are being applied to reduce the processing time of IPDs to 4 hours.

“The IPD process will ensure that we know what is coming into Liberia, what is going out and who brings or sends it out,” Mr. Wisner said.

The Deputy Commerce Minister for Commerce and Trade Services also called on Liberians to desist from practices that could harm the repetition of others in society, including other vices that have the propensity to portray   a gloomy picture of the country in the eyes of the international community.

“The IPD process will ensure that we know what is coming into Liberia, what is going out and who brings or sends it out,” Mr. Wisner said.