Liberia wants investment

Liberia wants investment

, not a battleground for minerals, the minister said. Liberia is positioning itself as an open and neutral location in the global race for critical minerals. Investment, value creation, and stability are the priorities, not geopolitical rivalry, explained Minister of Mines and Energy Matenokay Tingban. Liberia is actively seeking foreign investment to boost economic growth. The focus is on key sectors such as mining, agriculture, and infrastructure. Recent government strategies aim to attract billions in foreign direct investment through reforms and incentives. President Boakai has called on the diaspora to make strategic contributions. Agriculture offers opportunities in agricultural processing and exports due to fertile soils and global demand for sustainable products. The mining sector, rich in iron ore, gold, and newly discovered lithium and cobalt deposits, aims for annual revenues exceeding US$3 billion by 2029. A US$39.5 million modernization plan is earmarked to achieve this. Infrastructure, energy (hydropower and solar power), and tourism also represent areas with high potential in the post-conflict reconstruction efforts. Liberia's priority is to attract investors while avoiding becoming a battleground for global political conflicts, he said on the sidelines of the Future Minerals Forum in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Tingban noted that Liberia's mineral potential remains largely untapped due to a lack of detailed geological studies and geoscientific data, limiting the country's ability to move up the value chain. To address this, the government is focusing on welcoming investors, improving the investment climate, and securing property rights. He argued that the export of raw materials has negatively impacted government revenue and job creation. At the end of 2025, Liberia unveiled a mining and energy strategy for the period 2025–2029, supported by international partners such as the African Development Bank, France, China, and the United States. Among the megaprojects slated for completion in 2026 are railway lines, highways, and solar parks. OPEC provided a $20 million loan for road expansion. Offshore oil fields were awarded to TotalEnergies, indicating further resource ambitions. The minister emphasized that Liberia welcomes all partners equally—but on its own terms. Government reforms are improving the business environment, including through digitized processes, public-private partnerships, and access to ECOWAS/WTO for market expansion. Challenges persist in infrastructure and governance, but natural resources and incentives such as tax breaks enhance the country's attractiveness. https://jameskollie.net/2024/09/29/unlocking-liberias-investment-potential-key-sectors-for-economic-growth/ https://www.ecofinagency.com/news/0201-51730-liberia-plans-39-million-mining-investment-to-target-3-billion-a-year-in-revenue $20 million project on... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KL9loUFDsOQ https://wadr.org/liberia-president-boakai-calls-for-diaspora-investment-in-development/ https://www.state.gov/reports/2024-investment-climate-statements/liberia https://www.africamining.co/liberia-eyes-3-billion-investment-following-mineral-discoveries/ https://t.me/s/sputnik_africa