ST. THOMAS, U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS — Liberia is taking its investment and economic opportunities message to the Caribbean, with Ambassador Maisie Dunbar, Special Envoy to President Joseph Nyuma Boakai for Trade and Investment, set to promote Liberia as an emerging destination for investment at the 2026 We Mean Business Summit.
The summit is scheduled for September 16–18 in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, bringing together women leaders, entrepreneurs, investors and business professionals from the Caribbean, Africa and the wider diaspora.
Dunbar has been invited to participate in a high-level fireside chat expected to focus on investment, economic opportunity and the role of women in shaping markets and communities.
Her participation is being presented as an opportunity to strengthen connections between Liberia, the Caribbean and the African diaspora and explore potential areas of business cooperation.
Pitching Liberia as an Investment Destination
During the engagement, Dunbar is expected to highlight sectors the Liberian government considers to have investment potential, including agriculture, fisheries and the blue economy, tourism, infrastructure, energy and digital transformation.
She is also expected to discuss Liberia’s strategic location on the West African coast, its young population, natural-resource base and opportunities for private-sector partnerships.
“Liberia is not simply a country with resources. Liberia is a country with opportunity,” Dunbar said. “The question is whether we can connect the right investors with the right opportunities and create an environment where capital can come, businesses can grow, and Liberians can benefit.”
The engagement comes as the Boakai administration seeks to attract greater international investment and expand partnerships in support of its development agenda.
However, Dunbar’s participation at the summit is primarily aimed at opening conversations and building relationships with prospective investors rather than announcing specific investment agreements.
Beyond Capital
Dunbar is also expected to emphasize human capital development as an important component of Liberia’s investment strategy.
“Investment in Liberia must also be investment in people,” she said. “Human capital development, workforce readiness, entrepreneurship, education and skills are the foundation upon which sustainable economic growth is built.”
The message is expected to resonate with the summit’s focus on women’s economic empowerment, entrepreneurship, leadership and cross-border business relationships.
Organizers say the National Women’s Collaborative, which is hosting the event, has developed a global network of more than 2,900 women across more than 30 countries.
Seeking Caribbean-Liberian Business Links
Dunbar’s participation is expected to create opportunities for discussions around potential Caribbean-Liberian partnerships in areas including tourism, agriculture, the blue economy, infrastructure, trade, women-led enterprises and diaspora investment.
The Special Envoy said the relationship between Africa and the Caribbean provides a foundation for expanding economic cooperation.
“The Caribbean and Africa share history, culture, resilience and tremendous entrepreneurial spirit,” she said. “This is an opportunity to remind our Caribbean sisters that Liberia is not far away. We are part of the same global African story, and there are opportunities for us to do business together.”
For Liberia, the engagement represents an effort to reach investors and business leaders who may have limited exposure to the country’s investment opportunities.
From St. Thomas to Monrovia
The broader objective, according to the Special Envoy’s office, is to turn international engagements into business connections and eventually investment opportunities.
Dunbar’s participation comes as Liberia seeks to broaden its international economic relationships and attract private capital to sectors identified as priorities for national development.
Whether the St. Thomas engagement results in specific investment commitments will depend on subsequent discussions between Liberian officials, prospective investors and private-sector partners.
For now, the summit provides a platform for Liberia to present its investment case, establish new contacts and encourage Caribbean businesses and members of the African diaspora to explore opportunities in the country.
The 2026 We Mean Business Summit is scheduled to run from September 16–18 in St. Thomas under the leadership of Sharon Jackson, founder of the National Women’s Collaborative.
For the Boakai administration, Dunbar’s participation forms part of its broader effort to position Liberia as a destination for investment while linking economic opportunities with job creation, entrepreneurship and human-capital development.
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