…VP Koung Declares at 2025 Investment Conference
By Amos Harris
Congo Town, Montserrado, Liberia – Liberia is transitioning from an economy reliant on foreign aid and charity to one anchored in investment, trade, and inclusive development, Vice President Jeremiah Kpan Koung announced at the opening of the 2025 Liberia Investment Conference. The high-level gathering, themed “Partnering for Prosperity: Investing Today for a Brighter Future for Liberia’s Youth,” commenced on Tuesday, July 16, 2025, at the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Ministerial Complex.
The three-day event brings together hundreds of international investors, policymakers, development partners, and business leaders to explore Liberia’s economic potential across various sectors. Vice President Koung emphasized that the nation is no longer seeking handouts but meaningful partnerships that foster economic independence.
“Liberia is no longer a country waiting for charity,” Koung declared. “We are moving from aid to investment, from handouts to trade. Trade and investment are critical to our national development and infrastructure. This conference must mark a turning point for our country.” He described the gathering as a vital platform for creating long-term partnerships that will improve the lives of ordinary Liberians through job creation, infrastructure expansion, and inclusive economic participation.
The conference is jointly organized by NOVA Africa Ventures and the National Investment Commission (NIC), in collaboration with the Ministry of State and the Office of the Vice President.
Welcoming participants, NIC Chairman Jeff B. Blibo said the conference offers a strategic opportunity to showcase Liberia’s untapped potential in key sectors such as infrastructure, agriculture, mining, ICT, and tourism. “This conference is more than just a marketplace of ideas; it is a reaffirmation of Liberia’s readiness for partnerships that drive sustainable development,” Blibo noted. “We are opening our doors to investors ready to help us transform ambitious plans into real, people-centered outcomes.”
Ambassador David W. Anderson, President and CEO of NOVA Africa Ventures and co-chair of the conference, underscored Liberia’s readiness to attract global investors. “Liberia is on the cusp of transformative, inclusive, and sustainable growth,” he said. “Our goal is to connect Liberia’s unique investment climate with partners who are ready to empower the country’s future.”
Political Advisor to the President, MacDella Cooper, highlighted Liberia’s youthful population, rich natural resources, and strategic coastal location as compelling advantages for investment. “Liberia is well-positioned to become a trade and investment hub in West Africa,” she said. “We are committed to creating a stable, diversified economy that benefits both investors and the Liberian people.” She emphasized the government’s dedication to improving the ease of doing business through policy reforms aimed at ensuring transparency, reducing bureaucracy, and enhancing investor protections.
VP Koung echoed these sentiments, stating Liberia is breaking away from a past shaped by charity and dependency. “We are no longer defined by charity; we are defined by opportunity. This conference must reflect our readiness to build partnerships based on mutual respect, long-term vision, and shared prosperity,” he said.
Koung also spotlighted key government reforms, including the recent commissioning of modern port equipment at the Freeport of Monrovia and ongoing improvements in business registration processes through the Liberia Business Registry and the National Investment Commission. He stressed that investment must go beyond profit to uplift lives. “Investment is not just about capital flow. It is a long-term partnership for development,” he said. “Let this conference make it clear we are investing not just in our economy but in our people.”
Liberia, with its abundant resources including gold, iron ore, diamonds, fertile agricultural land, and a vast coastline, offers significant opportunities in mining, agro-processing, eco-tourism, and fisheries. According to Koung, the country’s access to regional markets through ECOWAS, coupled with growing political stability, makes Liberia an ideal location for both domestic and foreign investors.
“Our nation holds vast untapped potential. From natural resources to a youthful, resilient population, we are building the foundation for a stronger, more inclusive economy,” he added. The Boakai-Koung administration’s ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development is central to these efforts, focusing on education, infrastructure, energy, and job creation. Koung emphasized that Liberia’s economic transformation hinges on building human capital and attracting investment that benefits citizens beyond corporate boardrooms.
As the 2025 Liberia Investment Conference continues through July 18, participants will engage in sector-specific forums, one-on-one investor meetings, and project showcases aimed at generating actionable investment deals.
“We are writing a new chapter in Liberia’s economic story,” VP Koung concluded. “This is our moment to prove that Liberia is not a nation of need but a land of opportunity. The world must believe in Liberia’s promise and invest in it.”
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