The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Liberia and Head of Delegation at the Italy-Africa Ministerial Roundtable Conference, Ambassador Dee-Maxwell Saah Kemayah, Sr., has delivered a goodwill message at the 5th Edition of the Italy-Africa Business Week (IABW), upon the invitation of its Executive President, Cleophas Adrien Dioma, as part of sideline events intended to create linkages between the Italian business community and Africa towards the sharing of valuable information and common vision; creating synergies and inclusive business and investment opportunities focusing innovation, digitization, sustainability, communication, infrastructure and ecological transition, amongst others.
Foreign Minister Kemayah encouraged the Italian Foreign Ministry and the organizers of the bi-annual business event to consider hosting the Economic and Trade Forum in Africa, while suggesting Liberia to be the next host, aimed at promoting inclusive partnership and stronger sense of ownership by African countries.
The Minister further expressed that Liberia is ready and open for business, considering its attractive business and investment potentials. “Liberia is endowed with untapped biodiversity, abundant maritime and other natural resources ranging from iron ore, diamond, gold, rubber, and a vast green forest land of over 43,000 square miles for agriculture investment. We have a stable democratic government and run a dollar economy”.
“Our President, H.E. Dr. George Manneh Weah, is an ardent believer in democratic tenants to the extent that he sponsored referendum for reduction in Presidential tenure by one year (6yrs to 5yrs); and while speaking on September 16, 2021 in Ghana at the Extraordinary Session of the Authority of Heads of State, the Liberian Leader called for review of ECOWAS protocol on democracy and good governance in order to prevent the manipulation of constitutional term limits in the national constitutions of member states” he averred.
The Executive President of IABW Mr. Cleophas Adrien Dioma, unreservedly welcomed Liberia to host the next Italy Africa Business Week, and praised Minister Kemayah for his vast knowledge and experience in the business sector as former President of the Liberia Business Association (LIBA). Additionally, Mr. Dioma emphasized that Italy is a strong and vibrant industrious nation in Europe with huge capacity and potentials capable of partnering with Africa, particularly Liberia towards attainment of shared socioeconomic growth and prosperity. “I am an ardent fan of your President, H.E. Dr. George Manneh Weah for his exploits in Europe. President Weah needs to pay a state visit to Italy, because he remains very popular with our people and his voice would help in drawing the attention of the Italian government and business community to Liberia’s business potentials and investment opportunities,” he asserted.
The Liberian Foreign Minister also met in a closed-door meeting with his counterparts from Congo, Mali, and Madagascar. The forum brought together over one thousand five hundred (1,500) stakeholders through virtual platform and in person participation.