Canadian Government Delegation Visits Liberia to Discuss…

A delegation of senior Canadian officials visited Liberia to explore investment opportunities, particularly in renewable energy, facilitated by the Office of Liberia Trade & Investment in Canada. The discussions focused on enhancing bilateral relations, support for Canadian operations in Africa, climate initiatives, and various investment opportunities. The visit aligns with Canada’s commitment to sustainable development in Liberia.

A delegation of three senior Canadian government officials is currently visiting Liberia to explore investment opportunities, particularly within the renewable energy sector. This visit is organized by the Office of Liberia Trade & Investment in Canada, aiming to engage with local authorities and stakeholders for potential collaborative efforts.

The delegation includes Mr. Amadou Kane, Counsellor and Chief of Bilateral Cooperation for Ivory Coast; Ms. Marie Belanger, Team Leader at the Directorate for Canadian and International Partnerships; and Mr. Euloge Camara, Regional Climate Finance Trade Commissioner for Africa. Their discussions focus on fostering bilateral relations, trade, green energy initiatives, and private sector investment with Liberian officials.

Meetings have featured key figures of the Liberian government emphasizing the historical relationship that dates back to 1971. Notably, discussions with Minister of State for Presidential Affairs, Sylvester Grigsby, revolved around enhancing Liberia-Canada ties.

The talks encompassed various areas of ongoing collaboration such as human capital development, technological innovation, and climate change adaptation, and highlighted financial support for Canadian operations in Africa. Additionally, the Canadian delegation mentioned a technical support program geared towards enhancing private school teachers’ capacity in Liberia.

Mr. Amadou Kane indicated that while Canada does not currently have a bilateral program in Liberia, it does have several trading initiatives funded through international organizations. He stressed the importance of identifying and addressing investment challenges in Liberia during this visit, which aims to facilitate potential collaborations.

Mr. Euloge Camara expressed enthusiasm about his first visit to Liberia, emphasizing that climate change requires combined efforts and that Canada has been actively contributing to climate-related programs. He highlighted financial support to Canadian firms in Africa, aimed at contributing to sustainable development in Liberia.

Minister Grigsby reiterated Liberia’s commitment to environmental safeguarding and renewable energy advancement, indicating both nations’ willingness to collaborate on energy sector enhancements. Following this, discussions are scheduled with the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning and the National Investment Commission to solidify the partnership.

The officials’ visit is a direct outcome of the Liberia Investment Forum held in Toronto, Canada, where investors showed interest in sectors such as mining and sanitation. This establishes a framework for building lasting partnerships that can significantly benefit Liberia’s development and sustainability objectives. The Office of Liberia Trade & Investment in Canada is represented by Madam Jallahqueena Hawa Konneh, facilitating these essential dialogues.

The recent visit of the Canadian government officials to Liberia marks a significant step towards enhancing bilateral relations and fostering investment opportunities in the renewable energy sector. Through collaborative discussions with Liberian authorities, both parties aim to address key challenges while promoting sustainable development initiatives. The ongoing commitment from Canada to support projects in Liberia underscores the potential for impactful partnerships that could stimulate growth and improve the living standards within the country.

Original Source: www.liberianobserver.com