Finance and Development Planning Minister, Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan on Monday, July 20, welcomed a delegation from the United States Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) to the country.
The presence of the MCC delegation is to formally launched a technical scoping mission for the projects proposed under the second MCC Compact.
At the inception meeting shortly the members arrived, Ngafuan underscored the importance of the energy sector to the country’s economic transformation.
He described reliable and affordable electricity as the foundation for private sector-led growth.
He expressed government’s appreciation for the MCC’s continued partnership, and recommitted to advance the Compact Development process in accordance with MCC standards and timeline.
Jonathan S. Saiger, MCC Senior Operations Advisor on the Development of Compact Operations, led members of the delegation as well as technical experts from Tetra Tech, a due diligence contractor of MCC.
Mr. Saiger said, while Liberia has made significant institutional progress over the past decade, the country now requires strategic infrastructure investments to support its development.
Also, in attendance at the inception meeting were MFDP Deputy Minister for Economic Management, Dehpue Y. Zuo, the Coordinator of the Compact Development Team, Alieu Fuad Nyei, Mines and Energy Deputy Minister for Energy, Charles Umeha,
The MCC mission visit is expected to run from July 20-28, to assess the energy projects proposed by the Compact Development Team through technical scoping and site visits to priority transmission corridor in Montserrado, Grand Cape Mount, Gbarpolu, Bomi, Margibi, Bong, Nimba and Grand Bassa counties. Macpherson C. Marbiah writes.