Monrovia – The Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MOCI) in collaboration with the Swedish National Board of Trade and the World Bank Group has launched a service sector website to help businesses and potential investors to have access to information online.
Report by J. H. Webster Clayeh, [email protected]
The launch, which took place in the multi-purpose conference room at the MOCI on Friday, July 6, 2018, brought together stakeholders from the several ministries, agencies, the Liberia Chamber of Commerce and Liberia Business Association.
The website will provide an e-government solution to the business community in the country.
Instead of traveling to the respective ministries to find information, the one “stop-shop” website will help improve access to information for individuals in the business sector.
Speaking at the launch, the Minister of Commerce and Industry Prof. Wilson Tarpeh said the website will be regularly updated so as to help people with up-to-date information about Liberia’s business environment.
”You can access the website from your smartphone. It will be updated regularly, and it will help business people greatly,” MOCI Minister said.
He also praised his successor, former Minister Axel Addy, for the level of work done at the Ministry.
Speaking at the event earlier, the Technical Adviser of the World Trade Organization Accession Project, Mattias Karlson Jernbacker said the website will increase transparency within the business sector.
Jeernbacker added: ”Transparency is very important for business development. This is especially true for the smallest companies who do not have the resources to search for information.”
The project of the service sector website was first mentioned in the Diagnostic Trade Integrated Study (DTIS) carried out by the World Bank in 2008 and 2013.
In October 2016, work started on the business hub together with assistance from the World Bank and the Beta version finally came into completion February 2018.
The website will help in terms of business registration, license certification, paying taxes and also in public procurement, Jeernbacker said.
Also, speaking on behalf of the business community, Mai Urey, the wife of the Standard Bearer of the All Liberian People Party and prominent businessman Benoni W. Urey, praised the government and partners, adding that the website will make Liberia a business-friendly country.
As Managing Director of Wulki Farms and Farmers Paradise Madam Urey said: “Timely information is a key in any business.”
“You have done your part to make business easy for us in Liberia. We will be willing in any way possible to make this a success.”