A high-powered Liberian delegation coordinated by Finance and Development Planning Minister Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan, held productive discussions with the World Bank delegation to TICAD.
The delegation, according to a dispatch, was headed by the Managing Director of the International Finance Corporation (IFC), Makhtar Diop. The IFC is the World Bank private sector institution.
The bank delegation also included Ethiopis Tafara, Regional Vice President for Africa, IFC, Ousmane Diagana, Regional Vice President for Africa, World Bank and other World Bank executives.
Liberian government delegates to the talks included Foreign Minister Sara Beysolow Nyanti, Minister of Education Jarso Jallah, Nation Investment Commission Chairman, Jeff Blibo, Commerce Minister Magdalene Dagoseh; Agriculture Minister J. Alexander Nuetah, Mines and Energy Minister Wilmot J. Paye, Information Jerolinmek Matthew Piah, and NPA Managing Director Sekou Hussein Dukuly.
According to the dispatch, the discussion focused on plans of IFC to scale-up support to private sector investments in Liberia, including through IFC equity participation.
Sectors to benefit include energy, agriculture, tourism, financial services, and many others.
The delegations also discussed the World Bank portfolio in Liberia with net commitments now totaling nearly US$1 billion.
The delegates appreciated the increase in disbursements to World Bank projects as a result of increased delivery and the need to accelerate implementation to pave the way for increased World Bank support for Liberia’s ARRREST Agenda.