Liberian Food Exports Take Center Stage in Youth Enterprise, Diaspora Talks

Monrovia, Liberia: Demand for palm oil, gari, dried fish and pepper among Liberians abroad has become a focus of discussions between the Youth Entrepreneurship Investment Bank Management Company (YEIB-MANCO) and the Office of Diaspora Affairs, as the two institutions consider ways to help young business owners reach overseas buyers.

At an October 8 meeting at the Executive Mansion, representatives discussed connecting youth-led businesses with diaspora investors, distributors and professionals who could provide financing, technical support and access to markets.

Participants said Liberian producers were missing opportunities to supply foods familiar to Liberian communities in the United States, Europe and the ECOWAS region. They also raised concerns that some products sold abroad as Liberian were reportedly sourced from Ghana and Malaysia. The meeting account provided no figures on the size of that market or the volume supplied by competing countries.

For local businesses, the discussions went beyond finding customers. Participants identified production capacity, packaging, branding and compliance with international quality standards as areas that need attention before more Liberian products can compete abroad.

The proposed cooperation would bring together YEIB’s business support and financing facilities and the Office of Diaspora Affairs’ contacts among Liberians living overseas.

YEIB, an initiative of the Government of Liberia and the African Development Bank, supports young entrepreneurs through three facilities. Its Technical Assistance Facility provides training and business development support; the Enterprise Investment Facility provides direct investment financing; and the Credit Guarantee Facility seeks to reduce lenders’ risk when extending credit to young business owners.

The Office of Diaspora Affairs, which operates under the Ministry of State for Presidential Affairs, works to connect Liberians abroad with investment, professional service and other opportunities in Liberia.

During the meeting, the two institutions considered diaspora-backed investment, joint financing, mentorship, professional training and introductions to buyers and business partners. They also discussed promoting Liberian small businesses at international events.

Two programmes under development at the Office of Diaspora Affairs could support that work. The proposed Diaspora Professional Service Corps would match the skills of overseas professionals with needs in Liberia, while the iLiberia digital platform is intended to help Liberians at home and abroad exchange information and find business and professional opportunities.

The institutions also discussed using the planned 2026 Diaspora Annual Return to introduce eligible businesses to potential investors and buyers. Organizers expect the event to attract hundreds of diaspora Liberians and friends of Liberia, giving young entrepreneurs an opportunity to display their products and discuss possible deals directly.

The talks remain preliminary. The parties identified the drafting of a memorandum of understanding as a next step, alongside a review of existing programmes and budgets to determine which activities they could undertake together.

The meeting account did not announce a signed agreement, funding commitment or date for businesses to begin receiving support.

Those attending included Erasmus Williams, Head of the Office of Diaspora Affairs; Emmanuel B. Kollie, its Chief Administrative Officer; Joseph Fatorma Sando, Chief Executive Officer of YEIB-MANCO; Hillary B. David, Director for Enterprise Development; and Marcus B. Zarway, YEIB-AfDB Project Coordinator.