MONROVIA – President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr. departed Liberia Sunday morning for a high-level working visit to Istanbul, Republic of Türkiye, where he is expected to hold a series of strategic engagements aimed at deepening bilateral relations, expanding economic cooperation, and attracting greater foreign investment to Liberia.
The visit marks another important step in the Boakai Administration’s drive to strengthen Liberia’s diplomatic and economic partnerships with key international allies as the government pursues its ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development (AAID), which prioritizes infrastructure, agriculture, economic transformation, healthcare, education, and job creation.
During the visit, President Boakai is scheduled to hold bilateral talks with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan of Türkiye. The two leaders are expected to discuss a broad range of issues of mutual interest and identify new opportunities to further enhance the longstanding relationship between the two countries.
According to the Executive Mansion, discussions will focus on expanding cooperation in critical sectors, including trade and investment, infrastructure development, healthcare, education, agriculture, energy, technical cooperation, and capacity building.
Beyond official state engagements, President Boakai will also meet with leading Turkish business executives and investors to promote Liberia as a competitive investment destination. The meetings are expected to highlight opportunities across mining, agriculture, energy, manufacturing, construction, transportation, tourism, and other strategic sectors identified by the government for accelerated economic growth.
The Liberian leader is expected to present Liberia’s improving investment climate, ongoing governance reforms, and abundant natural resources as key incentives for increased Turkish private sector participation in the country’s development.
President Boakai is accompanied by a small delegation that includes Minister of State Without Portfolio Hadja Mamaka Bility, along with other senior government officials.
During the President’s absence, Minister of State for Presidential Affairs Samuel A. Stevquoah will chair Cabinet meetings in consultation with Vice President Jeremiah Kpan Koung, while maintaining regular communication with the President throughout the visit.
President Boakai is expected to return to Liberia at the end of the week following the conclusion of his official engagements in Türkiye.
Strengthening a Growing Partnership
Liberia and Türkiye have enjoyed steadily expanding diplomatic relations over the past two decades, with cooperation extending across diplomacy, trade, education, security, healthcare, aviation, and humanitarian assistance.
Türkiye officially opened its Embassy in Monrovia in 2010, significantly strengthening diplomatic engagement between the two countries. Liberia, in turn, established its embassy in Ankara, reflecting both nations’ commitment to expanding bilateral cooperation.
In recent years, Türkiye has emerged as an increasingly important development partner for Liberia through the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA), which has implemented numerous projects supporting healthcare, vocational training, agriculture, education, and humanitarian assistance.
The two countries have also strengthened cooperation in education through scholarship opportunities provided by the Turkish government. Hundreds of Liberian students have benefited from Türkiye Scholarships, enabling them to pursue higher education in Turkish universities across diverse academic disciplines.
Commercial ties have similarly expanded. Turkish companies have shown growing interest in Liberia’s construction, mining, energy, and infrastructure sectors, while bilateral trade has continued to increase. Turkish Airlines, one of the world’s largest international carriers, also provides an important aviation link between Liberia and Türkiye through regional connections, facilitating business and tourism.
Liberia and Türkiye have maintained close cooperation in multilateral organizations, including the United Nations, where both countries have collaborated on issues relating to peacebuilding, sustainable development, climate resilience, and international security.
Investment Diplomacy
President Boakai’s visit comes as Liberia intensifies efforts to attract foreign direct investment to stimulate economic growth, create jobs, and modernize critical infrastructure.
Since assuming office, the President has repeatedly emphasized that economic diplomacy will remain central to his administration’s foreign policy, with overseas engagements increasingly focused on mobilizing investment, technology transfer, and strategic partnerships capable of accelerating national development.
Officials say the Türkiye visit reflects that broader strategy of leveraging Liberia’s international relationships to generate tangible economic benefits for the Liberian people.
If successful, the meetings in Istanbul are expected to open new avenues for Turkish investment while reinforcing the longstanding friendship between Liberia and Türkiye as both nations seek to broaden cooperation across multiple sectors.
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