MONROVIA, Liberia — Liberia and the European Union have announced plans to convene the first-ever Liberia–EU Business Forum, a landmark initiative aimed at deepening economic cooperation, attracting investment, and advancing Liberia’s development priorities through structured engagement with European partners.
The announcement was made through a joint video message by Liberia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sara Beysolow Nyanti, and the European Union’s Head of Delegation to Liberia, Nona Deprez, underscoring a shared commitment to economic diplomacy and private-sector-led growth.
According to Minister Nyanti, the forum reflects a strategic shift in Liberia’s foreign policy under the leadership of President Joseph Nyuma Boakai Sr., placing economic diplomacy at the center of international engagement. She noted that Liberia is deliberately positioning itself to attract responsible investment that aligns with national development goals and delivers tangible benefits to citizens.
The two-day forum is scheduled for February 24–25, 2026, in Brussels, and will bring together Liberian and European policymakers, investors, entrepreneurs, and development partners. It is being jointly organized by the Government of Liberia and the European Union under the EU’s Global Gateway initiative, which promotes smart, clean, and sustainable infrastructure investments across partner countries.
The forum will be held under the theme “The ARREST Agenda in Action,” drawing directly from Liberia’s national development framework—the ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development—with a focus on agriculture, roads and infrastructure, tourism, and sanitation. These sectors are regarded as critical engines for job creation, food security, industrial growth, and inclusive economic transformation.
Ambassador Deprez emphasized that the forum’s priorities strongly align with the EU’s own development objectives, particularly in fostering sustainable investment, strengthening infrastructure connectivity, and promoting inclusive growth that benefits both Liberians and Europeans. She described the initiative as a practical platform for building long-term partnerships between the two regions.
The forum will also serve as a showcase of Liberia’s investment readiness, highlighting opportunities in agribusiness, infrastructure development, tourism, and hospitality, while connecting Liberian entrepreneurs with European capital, technology, and markets.
Observers say the Liberia–EU Business Forum represents a significant milestone in Liberia–EU relations, moving cooperation beyond traditional aid frameworks toward mutually beneficial investment and trade partnerships. It also reinforces Liberia’s broader push to reintroduce itself on the global stage as a credible, reform-oriented, and opportunity-driven economy. Both Minister Nyanti and Ambassador Deprez concluded their message with a joint invitation to investors and partners, encouraging broad participation in what they described as a bridge of opportunity between Liberia and Europe.
