Svyatoslav Storozenko, the new Managing Director of one of Liberia's major investment partners, West Africa Synergies-Liberia (WAS-Liberia), has praised President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf for rebuilding Liberia's image to the international community. This rebuilding, he said, has helped in attracting potential investors to the country.

Speaking at a press conference at the Royal Hotel in Monrovia yesterday, the WAS-Liberia new Managing Director indicated that the opportunities created by the government of Liberia through President Sirleaf have produced a suitable investment climate in the country.

Since Sirleaf's ascendency to the presidency in 2006, Storozenko said that she has drawn the attention of multinational companies from across the world, including Ukraine from where WAS-Liberia has its root, to invest in Liberia's mineral and timber operations.

The new boss said that though WAS-Liberia has been in the country for a few years it has failed to achieve its objectives because of bad management practices by its former Liberia-based executives and partners headed by its former Chief of Operations, Victor Brechko. These bad management practices, he said, have damaged, destroyed and robbed the company's foreign partners of million of dollars that could have been used to help in Liberia's development.

Storozenko said though WAS-Liberia Cooperation has lost assets and cash investments valued over US$12M, the company under his leadership as new Managing Director will ensure that Liberians benefit from the company's investment so as to further enhance the Liberia-Ukraine bilateral relationship.

The company, which is operating in Gbarpolu and Lofa counties, said Storozenko, is committed to implementing every aspect of the agreement that allowed WAS-Liberia to operate in Liberia. Storozenko said that they will do this in accordance with the country's laws stressing that the company will focus on education, community initiatives, including WAS-Liberia social corporate responsibility, for the benefit of those residing its concession areas.

Meanwhile, a team of Ukrainian journalists brought into the country by WAS-Liberia screened a short film showing citizens of Ukraine speaking about Liberia – Ukraine relations as well as highlighting Liberia's positive international image under the leadership of President Sirleaf since emerging from the devastation of the war years that saw the virtual destruction of the country's infrastructure.