–As Public Works Seals Deal To Pave From Zwedru To Ivorian Border
Pursuant to its commitment to achieving the Arrest Agenda for Inclusive Development (AAID), of which road construction plays a crucial role, the Government of Liberia (GOL), through the Ministry of Public Works, on Tuesday signed another landmark contractual agreement, this time with Consolidated Contractor Offshore SAL & Consolidated Engineering and Trading Co. SAL-Joint Venture (ICCO-CET-JV) for the paving of an 85km stretch of road from the Ivorian Border to Toes’s Town unto Zwedru in Grand Gedeh County.
Making special remarks, Public Works Minister Roland Layfette Giddings extolled the World Bank for the project, and said when completed it will link the southeastern parts of Liberia to central Liberia, thereby improving agricultural programs through trade and commerce between Liberia and Ivory Coast.
Minister Giddings also divulged that civil works will begin from Zwedru towards Toe’s Town, contrary to the initial plan, so as to accelerate the project, which runs for thirty-six (36) months.
He also used the occasion to thank the Ministry of Agriculture for the cooperation that continues to subsist between the two line ministries as it regards a technical shift from farm-to-market roads under RETRAP 2 to full construction of primary roads.
For his part, Agriculture Minister Alexander Nuetah pointed out that roads remain a critical factor that drives the performance of public institutions in Liberia, adding that the challenges faced in the road sector could impact other areas, including Agriculture.
Minister Nuetah termed the RETRAP 2 Project as a critical milestone that will bolster cross border trade between Liberia and La Cote D’Ivoire.
Also speaking at the signing ceremony was Emmanuel Baker, the Program Manager of the Infrastructure Implementation Unit (IIU), who asserted that the project is jointly financed by the World Bank through IDA, the Liberia Development Trust Fund and the Liberian government.
According to Baker, the selection of the final firm (contractor) underwent rigorous procurement processes beginning with twenty-three (23) firms in late February 2024.
The IIU Program Manager went on to state that on March 3, 2026 the Final Clearance or Award for the Contractor by the Bank was received, with the Consolidated Contractor Offshore SAL & Consolidated Engineering and Trading Co. SAL-Joint Venture (ICCO-CET-JV) emerging as the most responsive bidder, following the submission of the Combined Evaluation Report on January 8, 2026.
The overall cost for the project is a little over US$63 million. The project is designed to support 900,000 farmers and road users, specifically targeting rural households to improve their resilience and economic standing.
