Monrovia – Liberia has been urged to capitalize on its strategic position and play a key role in the transformation of intra-Africa trade, which is seen as a solution to Africa’s economic challenges.
The call was made during the 2025 Trade Road Fair, organized by Oakwood Green Africa, in collaboration with the Intra-Africa Trade Fair (IATF) Secretariat of the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), and Liberia’s Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Ministry of Finance and Development Planning, and the National Investment Commission. The event, held on Thursday, March 20, 2025, at the Royal Grand Hotel in Monrovia, was themed “Bridging the Last Mile: Unlocking Liberia’s Intra-Africa Trade Potential.”
The fair brought together government officials and business leaders to explore opportunities for Liberia’s economic growth through intra-Africa trade.
Mr. Gabriel Edgal, Chairman and CEO of Oakwood Green Africa, emphasized the critical need for a vibrant trade sector in Africa, stating, “Trade is Africa’s solution, and Liberia has the potential to be a major player in this transformation.” He encouraged Liberia to shift from a consumer-driven economy to a more production- and export-oriented one, leveraging its strategic geographical location.
Edgal also urged Liberian businesses to utilize digital trade platforms such as the Africa Trade Exchange and the Africa Trade Gateway, which are designed to facilitate cross-border trade and investment. “The capacity to transform our nation lies within Africa. Through trade and collaboration, we can achieve sustainable growth. Grants alone do not build nations; production does,” he asserted.
Mussah A. Kamara, Senior Research Advisor at the Central Bank of Liberia (CBL), highlighted the importance of trade finance in fostering economic growth. He outlined initiatives from Afreximbank, including structured financing solutions, trade finance guarantees, and the Africa Trade Gateway (ATG) platform. Kamara also called on Liberian businesses to actively participate in the upcoming Intra-Africa Trade Fair (IATF) 2025, which is expected to unlock an estimated $44 billion in trade and investment opportunities.
He further stressed the challenges faced by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in accessing affordable credit and cross-border payment solutions. Kamara noted that the CBL is working with commercial banks to increase SME lending and promote the adoption of digital banking solutions to ease trade transactions.
Deputy Minister of Commerce, Wilmot T. A. Reeves, highlighted the potential of intra-Africa trade in driving Liberia’s economic transformation. He pointed out the stark contrast between Africa’s intra-regional trade levels and those of other regions. While intra-regional trade accounts for 60% of total exports in Asia and 70% in Europe, Africa lags behind at less than 20%, with Liberia’s trade with African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) member states making up less than 15% of its total exports.
Reeves noted that Liberia’s exports, including rubber, timber, iron ore, and palm oil, have significant potential for diversification and value addition. However, he acknowledged the challenges facing Liberia’s trade sector, including limited access to financing, market access barriers, and trade facilitation bottlenecks.
“Our SMEs, which constitute over 80% of Liberia’s businesses, face significant hurdles in accessing trade finance and integrating into regional supply chains,” Reeves said. He emphasized the government’s commitment to creating an enabling environment for businesses to thrive within the AfCFTA framework.
