President Boakai Woos French Investors, Promotes ‘ARREST’ Agenda in Paris

By James T. Brooks

Paris, France — President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr., today addressed an Economic Roundtable organized by the Mouvement des Entreprises de France (MEDEF), France’s largest employer federation. The event was held to attract foreign investment and strengthen bilateral economic ties between Liberia and France.

The high-level engagement in Paris is part of President Boakai’s ongoing initiative to diversify Liberia’s foreign policy and reposition the nation as a trusted destination for trade and investment in West Africa.

The forum brought together senior executives from some of France’s leading corporations, including Group Qair, Matiere, IKA Technology, Group Ragni, AVRIL, Bureau Veritas, TotalEnergies, Sunna Design, Sharp Vision Orange, MEDEF International, and Vinci Construction Grands Projets.

The ARREST Agenda and A New Beginning

In his address, President Boakai presented Liberia’s national development blueprint, the ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development, which prioritizes:

Agriculture, Road (infrastructure), Rules of law, Education, Sanitation and Tourism.

He outlined Liberia’s improving business environment and extended a warm invitation to French investors, emphasizing that “Liberia is embracing a new beginning rooted in self-discipline, reconciliation, and an uncompromising fight against corruption.”

Acknowledging the strong and enduring ties between the two nations, the Liberian leader commended French companies already operating in the country for their positive impact. He called for “quality investments that drive sustainable growth and create lasting partnerships.”

Joint Chamber and Future Delegation

To further advance bilateral economic cooperation, President Boakai proposed the establishment of a Liberia–France Joint Chamber of Commerce. The proposal received strong endorsement from MEDEF International and participating business leaders. They agreed that the Ambassadors of both countries will collaborate to finalize the modalities for the initiative.

In a powerful appeal to his audience, President Boakai said, “Please do not judge us by the past. The culture of Liberia is not dishonesty. Give us the chance to prove that today marks a new day for Liberia and that we want to be respected as a country.”

French business leaders responded positively to the President’s message, expressing renewed confidence in Liberia’s leadership and commitment to reform. In a concrete demonstration of this, MEDEF International announced that it will dispatch a high-level French business delegation to Liberia in early 2026 to further explore ways to strengthen trade and investment relations between the two nations.