Liberian minister calls for investment in his country

Accra (Greater Accra), 3 March '99 -

Dr Brahima Khaba, Liberian Minister for Commerce and Industry, on Tuesday called on investors to take advantage of the peace and stability in his country to invest there. He said with the seven year-war over, Liberia is now poised for investment in all sectors of the economy adding, there is enormous potential in his country. Dr Khaba made the call at Liberia's National day at the second ECOWAS trade fair in Accra. About 16 Liberian companies are participating in the fair. Items on display at the Liberian stand include alcoholic beverages, rubber products, cement and zinc. Dr Khaba said at the moment, construction and building firms in Liberia are operating at full capacity. "However, cement factories and other industries are operating at 30 per cent capacity due to the war". Dr Khaba said the ECOWAS fair is a step in the right direction in the search for a common market and integration. He said ECOWAS had chalked some tangible achievements in economic integration but said, "we must, however, recognise that in the past few years, socio-political crisis and the imperatives of crisis resolutions seemed to have taken a heavy toll on our initial resolve to promote increased intra-African trade."