Liberia’s Investment Opportunities Promoted at United Nations Meeting
Priority Sectors for Investment Generation
In 2012, the National Investment Commission, with support from the International Finance Corporation, assessed 25 sub-sectors in Liberia, ranging across agribusiness, light manufacturing and energy and transportation sectors to determine their levels of impact, opportunities, capability, and readiness. Based on the findings and input from our stakeholders three sectors with the greatest investment potential were identified—fisheries, transport (mainly marine) and horticulture.
(CLICK HERE to download a summary of the report.)
FISHERIES
The world market, particularly Africa and Asia, has seen a growing demand for fresh and processed fish products, and Liberia has ample fish stock and a long coastline suited for fishery.
Prospects
- Liberia’s coastline and continental shelf offers 20,000 sq km of fishing ground. There is over 180,000 MT/year available for catch.
- Aquaculture products have increased in price by 23% since 2008
Market Opportunities
- Landing quays to support industrial fishing are needed
- Cold chain facilities that meet international standards
- Facilities for post-catch storage, processing, and handling for artisanal fishing
- Middle-scale processor with modern storage and processing facility to serve local and regional market
What We Seek: Investors with plans to—
- Engage smallholder livelihood; currently 37,000 Liberians engaged in fishing and processing.
- Raise significant export revenue and license revenue immediately.
- Vitalize fishery industry and reduce wastage.
HORTICULTURE
A focus on fruit and vegetable processing of items such as cassava, pineapples, and mangoes would increase the value of exported primary commodities
Market Opportunity
- Growing regional demand and significant demand in the EU for fruit juices, concentrates and canned sliced pineapples.
- Export fresh or processed fruits and vegetables; abundant resource needs to be turned into commercial opportunity
- Only US$ 55M+ worth of fruits and vegetable production (of which US$40M being banana)
Production Capacity
- 4.6M ha of arable land available for cultivation (currently, less than 10% is being cultivated)
- Suitable climate for cultivating vegetables and tropical fruits
What We Seek: Investors with plans to—
- Engage out-growers
- Add value to raw materials
- Demonstrate Industrial Capabilities
- Build access to market in developed countries and expose the sector to stringent quality and traceability standards
- Develop skilled workers that enables the country to diversify into other sectors.
TRANSPORTATION
Investment in land, air and marine transportation will further enhance the productivity of multiple sectors; for instance, it could improve efficiency of the agricultural value chain by improving access to now isolated parts of the country and making the transport of goods between regions more efficient
Market Opportunity
- Strong demand for sea transport to link coastal cities as roads have not been rehabilitated.
- Access to financing is needed for truck purchasing (finance leasing opportunities)
- Trucking modernization may attract outsourcing needs for large concessions.
What We Seek: Investors with plans to—
- Create thousands of jobs in the sea and ground transport sector
- Upgrade their workforce through skills development, in fields such as engineering (sea) and car mechanics
- Safeley reduce the travel time for passengers going one part of the country to the other
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