By Lloydson G. Flomo
MONROVIA, June 9 (LINA) – The Governance Commission (GC), together with key government institutions and development partners, has validated Liberia’s Draft Local Content Policy and Supplier Development Portal in a major step toward increasing the participation of Liberian-owned businesses in the national economy.
The one-day validation workshop brought together stakeholders from government, the private sector, civil society, and development organizations to review and endorse the policy framework aimed at promoting local enterprise development, job creation, and inclusive economic growth.
The initiative was jointly organized by the Governance Commission (GC), National Investment Commission (NIC), National Bureau of Concessions (NBC), and the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MOCI), with support from the Liberia Chamber of Commerce and the World Bank.
Speaking at the opening of the workshop on Friday, May 29, 2026, at a local hotel in Monrovia, GC Acting Chairperson Prof. Alaric K. Tokpah described the exercise as a landmark moment in Liberia’s drive to build a stronger, more inclusive, and economically resilient nation.
Prof. Tokpah noted that although Liberia has attracted substantial foreign investment in key sectors over the years, the involvement of Liberian-owned enterprises in procurement, subcontracting, and value-added production remains significantly limited.
He pointed out that many local businesses continue to face obstacles, including limited access to finance, weak technical capacity, compliance challenges, information gaps, and inadequate integration into supply chains.
“Today is a moment that must challenge Liberians to rethink how investment, concession operations, and economic growth can deliver direct and sustainable benefits to Liberian businesses, workers, and communities,” Prof. Tokpah said.
According to him, the Draft Local Content Policy was developed as a strategic national instrument to expand the participation of Liberians and Liberian enterprises in the economy.
“This policy seeks to create a framework that encourages local procurement, strengthens domestic industries, facilitates skills transfer, promotes technology diffusion, and empowers Liberians to move from the margins to the center of economic participation,” he emphasized.
Prof. Tokpah also hailed the Supplier Development Portal as a transformative digital platform that will connect Liberian Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) with concessionaires, investors, and procurement opportunities across multiple sectors.
“The Supplier Development Portal represents an innovative digital platform designed to connect Liberian MSMEs with concessionaires, investors, and procurement opportunities across multiple sectors,” he said.
He added that the platform will improve transparency in procurement processes, strengthen business linkages, provide supplier training opportunities, and equip local enterprises with the tools and information needed to compete effectively.
Also addressing the gathering, GC Acting Vice Chairperson Mrs. Sianneh Sackie Juah acknowledged the contribution of foreign investments and development agreements to Liberia’s economy but noted that their linkages with the domestic private sector remain weak.
She said most MSMEs lack the technical, managerial, and financial capacity necessary to benefit from opportunities generated by Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). She further observed that local content regulation in Liberia is currently governed by fragmented sector-specific laws and concession agreements, resulting in inconsistencies, enforcement challenges, and limited impact on local business growth.
Mrs. Juah stressed that a unified and effectively enforced Local Content Policy, supported by robust legislation, could redirect hundreds of millions of dollars in procurement spending to Liberian businesses and create thousands of skilled jobs over the next decade.
“The proposed policy will replace the current patchwork of regulations with a comprehensive national strategy for inclusive economic growth,” she said.
“Local content is not just about numbers or compliance; it is about building capacity, creating jobs, empowering local enterprises, and fostering innovation that reflects our unique strengths,” Madam Juah added.
She emphasized that aligning policy objectives with practical realities would ensure that investments generate lasting benefits for communities, strengthen the national economy, and improve Liberia’s competitiveness.
The Draft Local Content Policy seeks to facilitate technology transfer, enhance managerial and technical skills, and strengthen knowledge-sharing between foreign investors and local enterprises. It is also expected to serve as a mandatory benchmark for future investment negotiations and apply to large firms, including their affiliates, contractors, and subcontractors, while ensuring that investors are not subjected to unreasonable compliance burdens.
Additionally, the policy aims to accelerate the growth of Liberia’s private sector and human resource capacity by leveraging opportunities created through large-scale investments and promoting greater value addition within the national economy.
Meanwhile, stakeholders, including representatives of civil society and the media, expressed optimism about the policy’s eventual implementation, describing it as a significant milestone in empowering Liberian businesses and expanding local participation in the country’s economic development.