— Officials Call for Stronger Trade, Investment, and Cultural Partnerships
MONROVIA – Liberia and India have reaffirmed their commitment to deepening bilateral relations, strengthening trade and investment ties, and empowering diaspora collaboration during a landmark seminar held Thursday under the theme “India-Liberia: Diaspora’s Role in Trade, Investment and Development.”
The event, hosted by the Embassy of India in Liberia, brought together senior government officials, diplomats, and business leaders from both nations, including India’s Ambassador to Liberia, Manoj Bihari Verma, former Commerce Minister Amin Modad, and Acting Information Minister Johnny Tarkpah.
In his keynote address, Ambassador Verma hailed the Indian diaspora as a “living bridge” between India and the world, noting that in Liberia, Indian entrepreneurs have been an integral part of the nation’s growth for nearly five decades.
“They didn’t just do business in Liberia—they became part of Liberia,” Ambassador Verma said. “Our community here has stood with Liberia through times of peace and through periods of challenges, contributing to its reconstruction and economic recovery.”
He described the seminar as the first formal platform to examine and celebrate the contributions of the Indian diaspora to Liberia’s economic and social landscape.
“This gathering is not a one-time event but the beginning of a sustained engagement,” he added. “The Embassy plans to continue such dialogues and will even publish a book documenting the diaspora’s 50-year journey in Liberia.”
Verma highlighted India’s position as one of the world’s fastest-growing major economies—“a global leader in technology, pharmaceuticals, renewable energy, and innovation”—and underscored opportunities for collaboration in digital finance, healthcare, agriculture, and education.
A Call for a Strategic Economic Partnership
Speaking at the same event, former Commerce and Industry Minister Amin Modad urged both nations to transform their historic friendship into a “strategic economic partnership” that delivers innovation, industrialization, and inclusive growth for Liberians.
“While we celebrate the past, we must now look to the future,” Modad declared. “It’s time to elevate our friendship into a partnership that delivers jobs and prosperity for both nations.”
He noted that Liberia and India have complementary strengths — with India excelling in technology, agriculture, and pharmaceuticals, while Liberia possesses rich natural resources and a young, eager workforce.
“Why not grow rice here using India’s expertise?” he asked. “Why not process rubber, cocoa, and palm oil locally for the Indian market instead of exporting raw materials?”
Modad proposed the creation of an India-Liberia Business Council to connect entrepreneurs, share market data, and promote trade missions.
“Long-term development will not be driven by government alone,” he said. “It will be built by partnerships and visionary collaborations like the one we’re celebrating today.”
Liberia Lauds India’s Economic Role and Diaspora Contributions
Representing the Boakai administration, Acting Information Minister Johnny S. Tarkpah praised India’s longstanding partnership and its growing role in Liberia’s private sector, which he described as “a pillar of the ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development.”
“The government of President Joseph Boakai is focusing on economic growth through empowerment and private-sector development,” Tarkpah stated. “India remains one of Liberia’s most reliable partners in this pursuit.”
He revealed that trade between the two countries reached US$397 million between 2024 and 2025, up from US$243 million the previous year — a growth he attributed to the expanding Indian business footprint in Liberia’s pharmaceuticals, construction, hardware, and food industries.
“Over the last 30 years, almost every Liberian has benefited from Indian medicine, building materials, or household goods,” Tarkpah observed. “We are grateful for these contributions.”
Tarkpah also disclosed that about 4,000 Liberian students are currently studying in India — with roughly 30% pursuing graduate programs and 5% enrolled in PhD studies.
He proposed that the seminar be institutionalized into a quarterly Liberia-India Trade and Development Forum to sustain dialogue and accelerate partnership opportunities in agriculture, education, tourism, and renewable energy.
“Development aid is not lasting,” he said. “What drives growth is trade, investment, and innovation. It’s time for Liberia and India to move hand in hand.”
A Partnership for the Next 50 Years
As the seminar concluded, all three speakers emphasized that the event marked a new chapter in India-Liberia relations — one built on mutual respect, economic cooperation, and shared prosperity.
“Together,” Ambassador Verma said, “let us honor the legacy of the past 50 years and work toward the next 50 years of deeper friendship, partnership, and progress between India and Liberia.”
