Monrovia – Liberia’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Sara Beysolow Nyanti, has disclosed that the Government of Liberia (GOL) currently has no formal “guiding document” to fully implement its economic diplomacy policy, despite placing the strategy at the center of its foreign engagement agenda.
By Obediah Johnson, [email protected]
Appearing recently before the Plenary of the Liberian Senate, Minister Beysolow admitted that past and ongoing economic diplomacy efforts were largely driven by experience, relationships, and access to foreign investors rather than a structured national framework.
“We were doing this based on our knowledge and access, and for the different embassies we have, we didn’t have a guiding document,” she told lawmakers. “Over the last two years, we have learned what works and what doesn’t work.”
Engagements Without a Framework
Despite the absence of a formal policy guide, the government has hosted and participated in several economic diplomacy activities, including business roundtables and investment summits in Ghana. Morocco, Rwanda, and Brussels.
According to the Minister, the Brussels summit convened European business owners and corporate leaders, facilitating both government-to-business and business-to-business discussions aimed at unlocking investment opportunities in Liberia.
She added that Liberian-owned businesses were also allowed to engage directly with their European counterparts.
Liberia has since received investment commitments, particularly in the tourism sector, following engagements with potential investors during the Brussels meetings.
Draft Framework in the Works
Minister Beysolow revealed that the government has now developed a draft economic diplomacy framework intended to guide Liberia’s embassies in identifying and promoting priority investment sectors.
The framework, she said, will standardize how diplomatic missions approach investor engagement and align outreach efforts with national development goals.
“For the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, our role is to promote and create the platform for government sectors and businesses to engage,” she explained.
She noted that the Ministry is working closely with the Liberia Chamber of Commerce and the Liberia Business Association (LBA), whose leaders are currently in Brussels engaging investors on behalf of their members.
Shared Responsibility Across Ministries
The Minister emphasized that while the Foreign Ministry facilitates engagement and outreach, creating an enabling investment environment requires collaboration across key government institutions, including the Ministries of Justice, Commerce and Foreign Affairs.
She stressed that the Ministry of Justice plays a critical role in building investor confidence by ensuring the rule of law, security, and fair adjudication of disputes.
Foreign investors, she noted, must be assured of impartial trials and legal protection should disputes arise from their investments.
Economic Diplomacy at the Core
Under President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Liberia has repositioned economic diplomacy as a cornerstone of its foreign policy—aimed at shifting the country from aid dependence to an investment-driven economy.
The strategy seeks to advance national economic goals by attracting foreign direct investment, expanding trade partnerships, strengthening international cooperation, and promoting sustainable development.
Priority sectors include mining, agriculture, infrastructure, energy, tourism, the digital economy, education, sanitation, and health.
While acknowledging early successes, Minister Beysolow’s admission highlights a critical gap: Liberia’s economic diplomacy push has been active—but until now, largely without a formal roadmap.
