DMA is pleased to announce that it will be hosting the US-Liberia Trade & Investment Forum 2015 in September, as HE President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf leads a delegation of senior ministers and officials for the first significant investment outreach since the Ebola outbreak.
Liberia’s post-war economic growth has been steady, with iron ore exports, construction and the service sector all featuring strongly and contributing to GDP growth. Liberia has vast untapped potential in areas such as the extractives industries sector, with a wealth of natural resources as yet unexploited, including further significant deposits of iron ore, gold, diamonds and bauxite. And with an increased awareness that Liberia has embraced democracy and is stabilising, with President Johnson Sirleaf elected for a second term in 2011, Liberia is gaining growing support for her future and growing investment in her economy.
The US-Liberia Trade & Investment Forum will take place in New York City on September 16th 2015. HE President Johnson Sirleaf will be addressing the forum and will bring with her a delegation of many of her most senior ministers. Along with the Government of Liberia other key stakeholders in the country such as representatives from her national companies will be presenting; and high-level representatives from the US government and private sector will be discussing the work being done in Liberia. Officialy endorsed by President Johnson Sirleaf, the forum promises to be an excellent opportunity to meet with the Government of Liberia and hear the Liberian story.
PROGRAMME OF THE DAY
0800-0900: Registration & Refreshments
0900-0915: Welcome Addresses and Opening Comments
• Atam Sandhu, Chief Executive, Developing Markets Associates
• Hon Etmonia Tarpeh, Chairman, National Investment Commission (NIC)
• Hon Jeremiah Sulunteh, Liberian Ambassador to the US
• Ambassador Deborah Malac, US Ambassador to Liberia
0915-0930: Keynote Address
• Bisa Williams, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of African Affairs, US State Department
• Dr David Nabarro, UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy on Ebola
• HE President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, President of the Republic of Liberia
0930-1100: Session 1 – The New Liberia: Economic Outlook & Opportunities
Chair: Ambassador Deborah Malac, US Ambassador to Liberia
• Hon Amara Konneh, Minister of Finance and Development Planning
• Dr J. Mills Jones, Executive Governor, Central Bank of Liberia
• Frank Ajilore, Liberia Manager, IFC
• Private sector representative
1100-1130: Refreshments Break
1130-1300: Session 2 – Investing in Agriculture & Agribusiness
Chair: John Aldonas, Deputy Vice President for Small & Medium Enterprise Finance, Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC)
• Hon Seklau Wiles, Acting Minister of Agriculture
• Ed Garcia, President, Firestone Natural Rubber Company
• Anna Rogers, Programme Director, Grow Liberia
1300-1400: Networking Lunch
1400-1515: Session 3 – Investing in Infrastructure
Chair: Oren Whyche-Shaw, Deputy Assistant Administrator, Bureau for Africa, USAID
• Hon William Gyude Moore, Minister of Public Works
• Hon Angela Cassell Bush, Minister of Transport
• Hon David Williams, Acting Managing Director, National Port Authority
• George Adjei, Managing Director Liberia, APM Terminals
1515-1545: Refreshments Break
1545-1700: Session 4 – Investing in Extractives
Chair: Bisa Williams, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of African Affairs, US State Department
• Hon Patrick Sendolo, Minister of Land, Mines & Energy
• Dr Randolph McClain, Chief Executive, National Oil Company of Liberia
• Private sector representative
1700-1720: Closing Remarks
• Ambassador Deborah Malac, US Ambassador to Liberia
• HE President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, President of Liberia
1720-1830: Gala Reception
Venue to be announced.