The Bureau of State Enterprises (BSE) has officially launched its five years strategic plan, aimed at transforming Liberia’s state-owned enterprises (SOEs), into more accountable, efficient and financially sustainable institutions.
The BSE 2025-2029 strategic plan was launched under the theme “A New Era of Strategic Reform: Positioning the BSE/SEAL to Champion the Transformation of SOEs into Accountable, Efficient and Financially Sustainable Institutions to Contribute Meaningfully to National Growth and Development.”
Accordingly, the plan is more than just a roadmap, as it is a covenant with the Liberian people, which served as a blueprint for making SOEs the engine of economic growth and public value.
At the ceremony held over the weekend in Monrovia, BSE Director General, Theodore Momo indicated that for too long, the SOE sector has been constrained by weak governance systems, limited transparency and inefficiencies that have undermined its contribution to national development.
“This Strategic Plan (2025-2029) marks a clear departure from that era. It sets out a bold and practical roadmap to transform SOWs into accountable, efficient and financially sustainable institutions that serve the interest of all Liberians,” DG Momo said.
He said the reform agenda seeks to strengthen oversight, accountability and transparency, while ensuring that public resources are effectively managed, and strategic service-delivery goals are achieved.
He disclosed that the development of the plan has been informed by extensive consultations, evidence-based analysis and lessons learned from previous reform efforts.
The BSE Director General indicated that the plan recognized that sustainable change required not only stronger policies and systems, but coordinated action, stakeholder ownership and a culture of accountability across the entire SOE ecosystem.
He said the performance of SOEs is central to institutional transformation, as those entities serve as key drivers of public delivery, economic growth and domestic revenue mobilization.
DG Momo then praised President Joseph Boakai for demonstrating the political and administrative will to place SOE reform at the center of Liberia’s national transformation agenda.
He as well commended members of the Legislature for their support towards the crafting and launch of the institution’s five years plan.
Finance and Development Planning (MFDP) Assistant Minister for Expenditure, DedeSandiman, who proxied for MFDP Deputy Minister for Fiscal Affairs, Anthony Myers, underscored the importance of accountability in the management of state-owned enterprises.
Assistant Minister Sandiman said that enterprises that are owned by the people must operate in a form and manner that protects the public interest, safeguard public assets and delivered value for money.
He then recommended for SOEs to be managed as commercial and professional oriented entities, while remaining anchored in their public mandates.
He said the reform process should focus on stronger corporate governance, improve financial reporting, effective internal control and assessable performance target.
The MFDP Assistant Minister also identified five key priorities for reform that includes strengthen corporate governance, improve financial management and reporting, establish clear performance target, reduce operational inefficiencies and dependence on government subsidies, and protect public assets so as to enhance service delivery.
The ceremony brought together several heads of state-owned enterprises, government officials, representatives from the European Union (EU), development partners among others; Macpherson C. Marbiah writes.
