Liberia has concluded a three-day workshop aimed at strengthening national readiness for the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), with 63 participants receiving certification for their engagement and contributions.

Participants from government, private sector, and civil society institutions highlighted the workshop as a significant step toward deepening understanding of Liberia’s commitments under the AfCFTA Trade in Services framework.

Jesse Z. Mathies, Director in the Division of Foreign Trade at the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MOCI), described the workshop as highly impactful.

“A lot of new information was shared here between the participants and the consultant, and all of it will help us to make corrections and amendments to the audit report. Additionally, it was good for knowledge sharing, and as a ministry, it has helped us connect with new stakeholders so we can update our database.”

From the private sector, the Liberia Chamber of Commerce Secretary General, Ms. Catherine H. Kamo, emphasized the practical value of the training.

“The workshop has enlightened participants on AfCFTA commitments and how to navigate the services’ sector. For the Chamber, which represents over 200 members and 54 indirect memberships, the knowledge gained will be shared widely.”

Ms. Karmo also noted that while the Chamber already collaborates with the MOCI, the sessions revealed additional areas requiring closer coordination to advance national trade objectives.

The workshop, held from May 11–13 in Monrovia, was organized by the ECOWAS Commission under the ECOWAS/AfDB/UNDP Institutional Support Project (ISP) to analyze the findings of the newly developed regulatory audit reports and strengthen national capacity for policy reform.

Speaking at the close of the workshop, the ECOWAS Project Management Analyst, Ms. Chanchel Zorblewu commended participants for their active engagement.

“Participants demonstrated a high level of technical interest and commitment. The involvement of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, other sector institutions, and the private sector significantly enriched the discussions.”

She noted that the workshop not only strengthened understanding of the AfCFTA Trade in Services framework but also fostered inter-agency dialogue, enhanced collaboration on policy reforms, and supported alignment of Liberia’s regulatory systems with continental commitments.

Similarly, Trokon Bryant, representing UNDP, praised the dedication shown throughout the training.

“Your commitment over these three days reflects strong potential for Liberia’s economic transformation and future growth.”

Bryant also expressed appreciation to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry for ensuring inclusive participation and effective coordination.

Technical Facilitation and Capacity Building

Leading the technical sessions, expert consultant Ms. Beatrice Chaytor guided participants through:

• Trade in services rules and frameworks

• The Services Trade Restrictiveness Index (STRI)

• Sector-specific regulatory assessments

The workshop progressed from conceptual overviews to hands-on breakout sessions focused on Liberia’s commitments across key sectors:

• Business Services

• Financial Services

• Communication Services

• Transport Services

• Tourism Services

Participants also reviewed additional sectors for future negotiations, including Construction, Distribution, and Health Services.

Ms. Chaytor emphasized the strategic importance of the exercises.

“They are designed to help participants think about how Liberia can become competitive relative to other countries based on its commitments.”

She added, “Participants are now better equipped to respond to market access requests from other countries in a timely and informed manner. Moreover, they also understand that trade in services negotiations require a multidisciplinary and collective approach.

Key Findings and Recommendations

Through interactive discussions, participants identified several regulatory and market challenges, including foreign ownership restrictions, market entry barriers and constraints to fair competition

Sector-specific insights included:

• Financial Services: Need for reforms in board residency rules and cross-border insurance frameworks to enhance investor confidence

• Transport Services: Potential to reduce trade costs, provided nationality requirements are balanced with regional competitiveness

The collaborative sessions enabled stakeholders to review regulatory audit findings, identify policy gaps and develop actionable, evidence-based recommendations.

Impact and Way Forward

With services accounting for over 51% of Africa’s GDP, the workshop underscored the sector’s central role in economic growth, structural transformation, and investment attraction.

The certified participants are now tasked with translating workshop insights into concrete policy actions, including aligning Liberia’s national regulations with AfCFTA commitments, strengthening institutional coordination, and advancing reforms to boost competitiveness in services trade

By applying these recommendations, Liberia is positioning itself to diversify its economy, enhance regional and continental trade participation and fully leverage opportunities under the AfCFTA.

Originally expected to host 50 delegates, the workshop exceeded expectations with 63 participants certified, reflecting strong national interest and commitment to advancing Liberia’s trade agenda.

_END_