Commerce Minister Wilson K. Tarpeh is encouraging local entrepreneurs and foreign investors to take advantage of the new website launched by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry to enable them access general information about the Liberia’s business sector.
The “one-stop-shop” website is www.libbusinesshub.com, and is expected to be managed by the Swedish National Board of Trade until 2020 before being turned over to the Foreign Trade Division of Liberia’s Commerce Ministry.
Min. Tarpeh told the gathering at the launch on Friday in Monrovia that the initiative was the idea of the Ministry of Commerce and the Government of Sweden with the aim to promote transparency in doing business in Liberia.
“We will continue to update and improve the website. And as general format, we will include useful information that will enable the public, mainly those desirous of coming to Liberia and wanting to know what the environment looks like in terms of regulation,” said Min. Tarpeh.
He said achieving such goal was a major concern raised by the World Trade Organization and the World Bank Group, calling it a centralized information source as recommended by a study.
The two global institutions, according to Min. Tarpeh, continue to be very supportive in achieving such a “milestone”.
In remarks, acting Information Minister Daniel Gayedyu, Jr, described the introduction of the e-portal as a breakthrough that will advance transparency in the business sector.
“When people know exactly what is required of them; they feel safe and ready to move into Liberia to invest. This initiative will prevent entrepreneurs or investors from being exploited by some unscrupulous persons who may be in our rank and files,” he said.
Mr Gayedyu then pledged the Information Ministry’s readiness to use its necessary platforms to sensitize business people about the website.
Moreover, a representative of the business community, Madam Mai Urey, lauded the government for making available “such a timely website”.
“We, as business people, know that getting business information is key in running any business. And this hub or portal that you are just about implement, in my opinion, is going to be the face of Liberia as far as investors are concerned,” she said.
Madam Urey hoped that information provided on www.libbusinesshub.com would lure tourists to Liberia and that could contribute to economic growth.
On the website, the public can find information on rules, regulations and procedures applicable in the Liberian business sector, said Mattias Karlson of the Swedish National Board of Trade.
Karlson also said that the website will also host information about tax payment and business registration procedures or any such relevant links, as part of collaborating with the Liberia Revenue Authority, the Liberia Business Registry, and other institutions of the Liberian government, to ease the obstacles experienced by entrepreneurs in regularizing the paperwork.
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