The Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MOCI) has taken note of a story published by several media institutions titled 

Commerce Minister Under Scrutiny for US$429,000 Industrial Park Renovation.

The Ministry wishes to categorically clarify and correct the misinformation contained in the said publications regarding the Monrovia Industrial Park (MIP) rehabilitation initiative.

Background of the Monrovia Industrial Park (MIP)

The Monrovia Industrial Park was established by an Act of the National Legislature in February 1966, which authorized the expropriation of 1,112 acres of land between the Mesurado River Bridge and the Gardnersville access road for the development of an industrial estate to host local and foreign manufacturers. Over the years, significant encroachment reduced the original size of the Park to approximately 200 acres, currently occupied by small and medium industrial enterprises producing essential commodities such as nails, flour, paint, oxygen, and steel rods.

In 2017, an Administrative Regulation issued by former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf transferred oversight of the Monrovia Industrial Park (MIP) from the National Investment Commission (NIC) to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MOCI). This transfer aimed to strengthen coordination between Liberia’s industrial and trade policies and enhance effective oversight of the Park’s development and sustainability.

Governance of the Monrovia Industrial Park

The MIP is governed by an Inter-Agency Advisory Board established under Section 5.1 of the Administrative Regulation. The Board comprises representatives from key ministries and agencies, including the Ministries of Commerce and Industry, Finance and Development Planning, Public Works, Justice, Labor, the Environmental Protection Agency, the National Investment Commission, the Liberia Business Association, the Liberia Revenue Authority, and the Liberia Chamber of Commerce.

The Board is responsible for approving all financial and operational decisions relating to the Park, including maintenance, security, sanitation, and infrastructure development. As provided under Section 5.2 of the Regulation, a minimum of seven (7) members constitutes a quorum for any official decision.

Upon review of past audit reports and preliminary findings from the ongoing audit, the new leadership of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry observed two key recurring issues since 2017 when the MIP Fund was transferred to MOCI:

1. That the Fund should be strictly used for the development, security, sanitation, and general upkeep of the MIP; and

2. That all funding decisions must be approved by the Inter-Agency Advisory Board prior to implementation.

Recent Actions of the Inter-Agency Advisory Board

In response to urgent complaints from Park tenants and users regarding the deplorable condition of the facility—including lack of security, electricity, waste management, and exposure to encroachment—the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, on October 7, 2025, wrote to all Board Members through their respective heads, inviting them to an emergency meeting of the Board.

The first meeting, held on October 14, 2025, did not achieve quorum and was therefore rescheduled to October 22, 2025, when quorum was established. During this session, the Board deliberated extensively and approved an adjusted operational budget of US$429,009.00 for the last quarter of Fiscal Year 2025, to address urgent infrastructure and safety needs within the Park. The Resolution, signed by nine (9) of the ten Board Members or their accredited representatives, approved the following priority activities:

1. Construction and furnishing of the MIP Office Building;

2. Construction of Security Booths and two major gates with three smaller access gates;

3. Renovation of the existing MIP office;

4. Erection of concrete wall and wire fence to secure the Park;

5. Resurvey of the MIP land;

6. Garbage removal and disposal;

7. Recruitment of Security Guards; and

8. Installation of Signboards for visibility and way finding.

Procurement and Compliance Update

Following the Board’s approval, the Ministry formally wrote the Public Procurement and Concessions Commission (PPCC) requesting a No Objection to proceed with procurement activities under the approved MIP budget. The PPCC subsequently issued its approval of the MIP procurement plan on October 30, 2025, indicating the specific procurement methods and timelines.

Contrary to the media report, no contract has been awarded to any construction company, and no construction work has commenced at the Monrovia Industrial Park. The Ministry has only prepared the Expression of Interest (EOI) documents for publication in the local dailies on Monday, November 3, 2025, in line with the PPCC-approved process.

All procurement activities remain at the planning and compliance stage, consistent with the PPCC regulations. The Ministry reiterates that it has fully complied with all legal and administrative procedures, and the Inter-Agency Advisory Board remains the sole approving authority for all funding and project implementation decisions related to the MIP.

Clarifications on Alleged Misrepresentation and Unauthorized Signatures

The Ministry further clarifies that all communications and invitations were addressed to the heads of the respective institutions represented on the Board. Some officials attended the October 22, 2025 meeting alongside their designated representatives. The Ministry has received no formal communication from any member institution disputing the authority of its representative or the validity of their signatures on the approved Resolution.

Additionally, while the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning did not have a representative at the meeting, the Administrative Regulation governing the Board explicitly provides that a quorum of seven members—not specific institutions—is sufficient for binding decision-making. Therefore, the Resolution passed on October 22, 2025, was legally valid and procedurally sound.

Call for Responsible and Accurate Reporting

The Ministry of Commerce and Industry invites all media institutions and civil society organizations to visit the Monrovia Industrial Park to independently verify that no construction is ongoing. The Ministry remains committed to transparency, accountability, and adherence to the rule of law in all its operations.

The Ministry also urges the media to exercise due diligence and fact-checking before publication, as inaccurate reporting undermines public confidence and distracts from the collective effort to promote industrial growth, employment, and national development.

Issued by:

The Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MOCI)

Public Affairs Department
Monrovia, Liberia