Liberia Government (Monrovia)
11 March 2008
Monrovia — President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf withdrew the Amendment of the Investment Incentives Act of 1973 in order to hold more public consultations with a series of stakeholders from the business community, private sector, academic institutions, members of the press, and civil society representatives.
Consultations are scheduled during the month of March in order to present the merits of the Amended Act, which aims at ensuring an equitable business environment while empowering Liberian businesses. Because Government is committed to fostering dialogue, thereby opening up the democratic space, consultations are also being held to solicit constructive suggestions for improving the Act for resubmission to the Legislature.
The Ministry of State, in collaboration with various Government agencies such as the National Investment Commission (NIC), is spearheading newer rounds of consultations beginning with representatives from the business community (the Liberia Business Association, the Liberian Chamber of Commerce, the Liberian Women's Chamber of Commerce, and COLINBO) on Thursday, March 13, at 2:00 p.m. in the Cecil Dennis Auditorium at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Government wants to stress that the Amended Act submitted to the Legislature is an attempt to ensure that the business environment is equitable, while also creating external mechanisms that will empower Liberian businesses, such as the Margin of Preference (MOP), which when finalized will reserve a percentage of Government contracts to Liberian owned businesses, and the Bob Johnson $30 million fund which will provide loans of up to $1 million USD to Liberian entrepreneurs.
Government recognizes that a vibrant private sector supported by direct foreign investment is crucial to rapid economic growth. It submitted the Amended Act to ensure consistency with international best practices; create a market based economy to encourage private enterprise through a transparent, equitable and non-discriminatory legal framework for investment; expand international trade relations; and broaden Liberia's international economic cooperation.
Members of the press are invited to attend the Thursday consultation with the business community.
Be the first to Write a Comment!
Copyright © 2008 Liberia Government. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections — or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here.
AllAfrica aggregates and indexes content from over 125 African news organizations, plus more than 200 other sources, who are responsible for their own reporting and views. Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica.
