Pres. Sirleaf issues executive order 74, to enhance inclusive growth

Just hours before she could formally announced her presence at the World Trade Organization meeting scheduled in the Kenyan capital Narobi, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has issued anExecutive Order No. 74 developing the Liberia National Trade Policy (LNTP) intended to use trade as an engine of inclusive growth and as a vehicle to reduce poverty, especially among women, children, and the most vulnerable communities of the population.

Liberia, which has experienced a devastating civil war coupled with a debilitating Ebola virus outbreak that have destroyed large parts of its economy, wishes to be reintegrated into the international economy and trading systems, while being sensitive to the interests of the domestic private sector, a release from the executive mansion said.

The Executive Order No. 74, signed by President Sirleaf on December 10, 2015, directs that Liberia, in order to systematically implement the LNTP, has developed the Post Accession Plan (LPAP) 2016-2017 as a short to medium term approach.

Liberia is in the process of acceding to the World Trade Organization (WTO) and has made commitments relating to WTO Membership that will be implemented in the LPAP.

The Ministry of Commerce and Industry will coordinate the implementation process whilst ministries and agencies with trade-related mandates are responsible for implementation in their respective organizations.

Likewise, ministries including Agriculture, Health, Finance and Development Planning, Public Works, Labor, Justice, Lands, Mines and Energy, and Information, Culture and Tourism; agencies including the Liberia Revenue Authority, National Port Authority, Central Bank of Liberia, National Investment Commission, Environmental Protection Agency, and the National Bureau of Concessions as well as private institutions mentioned in the LPAP form an integral part of this Executive Order, to timely and fully implement the activities described therein.-Press release