The Ministry of Commerce & Industry (MoCI), along with a team from the Economic & Consular Session at the US Embassy near Monrovia, this week toured the Monrovia Industrial Park (MIP). Also forming part of the tour was the Liberia Special Economic Zones Authority (LSEZA).

The tour was aimed at strengthening partnership between the Ministry of Commerce & Industry and the US Embassy to take a look at Liberia’s industrial development potential.

The exercise was also intended to afford the US Embassy- through its Economic & Consular Session the opportunity to have a better look at what is being done at the industrial sites in order to determine what kind of assistance to give.

Speaking during the visit, Commerce & Industry Minister, Madam Dagoseh stressed the need for    local content promotion by companies operating at the Monrovia Industrial Park (MIP).

She encouraged them to consider purchasing raw materials produced by local industries once they meet the required quality and standards instead of importing them. 

Minister Dagoseh pledged the Commerce Ministry’s commitment to working along with companies at the MIP and local producers to see if there are challenges that may be preventing local content promotion.

She pointed out that such collaborative discussions would ensure that solution is found to any challenge(s) that may be responsible for companies at the Monrovia Industrial Park not purchasing locally produced raw materials.

While exchanging ideas during the tour, it was established that purchasing locally produced raw materials will also help local industries grow, in addition to lessening the cost associated with the materials being imported.

The exercise led Minister Dagoseh and the two teams to Sethi Brothers, Tiba Industrial Group and National Beverages Incorporated, where the Ministry of Commerce & Industry engaged MIP authorities about other issues concerning the welfare of local employees, including insurance, etc.