In addition to the imminent arrival of 720 metric tons of donated rice from China on Saturday—first consignment of a total of 3,600 metric tons—the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has disclosed that the governments of the Republic of Liberia and Japan have formally signed an Exchange of Notes in continuation of the KR Food Assistance Program in 2025. The signing ceremony took place on Tuesday, September 16, 2025, in the minister’s conference room at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The Deputy Minister for International Cooperation and Economic Integration, Dr. Ibrahim Al-bakri Nyei, described the signing as a significant milestone in the diplomatic, economic, cultural, and development cooperation between Liberia and Japan. “This event today is a manifestation that Liberia-Japan relations continue to grow from strength to strength. We hope to maintain this momentum as we build solid bridges in our bilateral cooperation and strategic partnerships on global issues,” he remarked.
He expressed profound gratitude to the government and people of Japan for their continued support and partnership over the years. According to him, the KR Food Assistance program, which began in 2008 as a compassionate response to the global food crisis, has evolved into one of the most impactful and sustainable development cooperation frameworks in Liberia.
Highlighting the uniqueness of the partnership, Dr. Nyei explained that Japan has not only provided rice as a food commodity but also established an innovative financing mechanism through the Japanese Counterpart Value Fund (JCVF).
“The brilliance of this model lies in its dual impact. While addressing food insecurity, it simultaneously fuels national development projects that build infrastructure, expand human capital, and promote long-term growth. This demonstrates Japan’s profound respect for Liberia’s sovereignty and development priorities,” he noted.
Speaking at the ceremony, Japan’s Ambassador to Liberia, His Excellency Hiroshi Yoshimoto, disclosed that this fiscal year’s KR Food Assistance program is valued at 250 million Japanese Yen (US$1.7 million). The shipment of rice is expected in 2026; however, it will be referred to as KR 2025. The KR Food Assistance will be managed by the Japanese Counterpart Value Fund at the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, under the oversight of the Inter-Ministerial Steering Committee, chaired by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
“This program lays a strong foundation for self-sufficiency in rice production and consumption, while also contributing to Liberia’s broader economic growth,” the Ambassador stated.
He praised the Government of Liberia’s initiatives to boost local rice production, and expressed Japan’s readiness to complement these efforts. “As you are aware, Japan has been supporting local rice production initiatives through various technical cooperation projects led by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). During my time as Ambassador to Liberia, I am committed to continuing this support to help Liberia’s journey toward becoming self-sufficient in rice production,” Ambassador Yoshimoto affirmed.
