Monrovia – The Liberia Business Association, an association of Liberian owed businesses says it is not getting any support from the Government of Liberia.
Report by Mae Azango [email protected]
“It is no longer a secret that the Liberian Business Association, (LIBA) is left out of the government. We are not against foreign business partners, but since we were established, we have not gotten any budgetary support from the government.
We only got support from former Central Bank Governor Mills Jones, who supported us, that our people politicized his gesture. So if we can partner with you or any of your partners, it would be a blessing to us, because the Liberian Tailor Union is also a part of us,” says David Sembeh, Vice President, LIBA.
During a courtesy call of Mr. Boniface Ihiasota, Publisher of Excel Magazine, at the LIBA office in Paynesville, LIBA VP Sembeh further told Mr. Ihiasota, that the Association is happy to partner with the magazine through the Tailor Union. In that if other investors invest in Liberia in the future, it will create job opportunities for many Liberians to be able to fight poverty.
“Just tell us what part you want us to play when you are ready, and we will do it, and we will also be willing to partner with any organization, just keep in touch with us,” Sembeh said.
For his part, Mr. William Montgomery, an independent consultant at LIBA said: “When I worked in Ghana before, they used to wear African attire every Friday in promotion of African culture”. But said since he has been working in Liberia, he has not seen any fashion show to exhibit Liberian made African textiles.
“As you have come to partner with the Tailor Union, I also urge you to host training workshops for them to be able to do quality work. Because most often, many tailors would do half way jobs and sell. Because if Liberia must take part in fashion shows in the future, they should be able to do quality work that will encourage buyers,” he said.
A delegation of 29 persons from the Liberian Tailor’s Union, headed by the Assistant Minister of Tourism Jacqueline Capehart , were invited to travel to the US, by Excel Magazine and Kimma Wreh of Tekay Design, to showcase their culture designs at the fashion show in Washington DC, slated for the 28th of July.
In this regard, as the fashion show approaches, the host and Publisher of Excel Magazine, Mr. Ihiasota, came to Liberia to do an assessment on the business climate in Liberia, to take back to their partners in the US and Nigeria to see about possible investment.
“Yes, training is also part of what we are planning to do with the Tailor Union, because showcasing Liberians designs to the outside world, we need quality.”
“I will take back all you have told me to my partners and see how best we can partner with you through the Tailor Union. Because it was because of the Tailor Union, we are hosting a fashion show in Washington DC by the end of July,” Says Mr. Boniface Ihiasota, Publisher of Excel Magazine.
“This is why the delegation of 29 persons, headed by the Assistant Minister of Tourism Jacqueline Capehart, who are traveling to the US to showcase their cultural designs at the fashion show, would not have been possible without the hard work of the Tailor Union’s good will ambassador Kimma Wreh, who asked me to reach Liberia during my trip to Ghana,” said publisher Ihiasota.
During his visit, Mr. Ihiasota also met with the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Federation of Road Transportation Union of Liberia, Information Cultural and Tourism, Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA).
Others includes: The Liberian Amputee football team, the Group of 77 through the second Lady Mrs. Boikai and the National Union of Organizations for Disables. He is to meet with the Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and Vice President Boakai for an exclusive interview and will stay for the Independence Day celebration to be highlighted in the EXCEL magazine International.