The Liberia Chamber of Commerce (LCC), in partnership with the European Union (EU), has dedicated a renovated office for the National Trade Facilitation Secretariat to strengthen private-sector development, streamline trade procedures, and improve Liberia’s business environment.
The renovation was supported by the EU Delegation to Liberia through the Private Sector Development Project, implemented by Expertise France. The Secretariat operates under the National Trade Facilitation Committee, chaired by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. The Chamber has agreed to host the Secretariat to strengthen engagement with businesses and improve access to trade-related information and services.
Speaking at the dedication ceremony, LCC President O. Natty B. Davis thanked the Government of Liberia, EU Delegation, Expertise France, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, and Liberia Revenue Authority for supporting the initiative.
Davis said hosting the Secretariat demonstrates the Chamber’s commitment to bringing government institutions and private businesses together to address challenges affecting investment and economic growth.
He cited discussions at the recent Liberia International Mining and Energy Conference, where inadequate institutional coordination emerged as a major concern for private-sector operators.
Davis stressed that businesses require clear regulations, consistent policies, and predictable government services to make investment decisions, particularly for projects requiring substantial capital and long-term commitments.
He said the Secretariat’s office would also support the Chamber’s Trade Desk, which is expected to improve access to business statistics and reliable information for companies considering expansion and investment.
Deputy Commerce and Trade Minister Wilmot A. Reeves, chairman of the National Trade Facilitation Committee, welcomed the Chamber’s decision, describing it as an important contribution to improving Liberia’s business climate.
Reeves said the EU-supported project promotes business growth through interventions targeting value chains, including wood processing, fisheries, and cassava. It also emphasizes public-private dialogue and creating conditions that enable businesses to operate and expand.
He maintained that government cannot independently drive national development, stressing its responsibility to establish an environment where private enterprises can contribute meaningfully to economic growth.
Reeves urged the Secretariat to collaborate with relevant institutions to identify and remove obstacles within Liberia’s trade system, assuring its leadership of the Ministry’s continued support.
William L. Buku, Assistant Commissioner of Customs Policy and Technical Operations at the Liberia Revenue Authority, highlighted the committee’s role in implementing the World Trade Organization’s Trade Facilitation Agreement.
Buku said effective trade modernization requires government-business collaboration, noting that early private-sector participation helps ensure reforms reflect practical realities and address operational challenges.
He welcomed the dedicated workspace, saying it would help the Secretariat coordinate activities and represent business concerns in trade policy discussions.
Dimitri De-Pues, Regional Hub Investment Officer at the EU Delegation to Liberia, welcomed the renovation’s completion, recalling that the partnership with the Chamber had lasted nearly two years.
De-Pues reaffirmed the EU’s commitment to supporting the initiative during the project’s remaining three years, highlighting cooperation among the Chamber, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, and Expertise France.
The office is expected to strengthen coordination and address trade barriers. Its impact will depend on the Secretariat’s ability to translate collaboration into practical reforms that facilitate trade, attract investment, and support sustainable private-sector growth.
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