US and Liberia have signed a joint statement affirming commitment to work together to address the challenges in Liberia and boosts the two countries’ bilateral relations.
In his closing remark on US-Liberia Partnership Dialogue in Washington DC, Under Secretary Wendy Sherman says both countries are committed to hold the next session of the U.S.-Liberia Partnership Dialogue in Monrovia, Liberia within the next year.
At that session, the two countries also plan to convene the first meeting of the Human Development Working Group.
Ms. Sherman says the high-level participation from both governments demonstrates the significance of the U.S.-Liberia Partnership Dialogue to their bilateral relationship, and the importance of the sectors that were discussed in the working groups.
The Dialogue has advanced the U.S.-Liberia bilateral relationship -a relationship already deeply rooted not only in our historical ties, but the shared commitment to democracy, human rights, and economic advancement.
US committed to help Liberia address the problems in agriculture
Ms. Sherman notes that in the Agriculture and Food Security Working Group, the colleagues discussed policy and institutional constraints to private sector-led development of Liberia’s agriculture sector, and ways to address these constraints.
Together, both countries explored opportunities to expand bilateral cooperation to increase food security and nutrition, especially under the Feed the Future Initiative.
On energy
In addition, the Energy and Power Infrastructure Working Group reviewed Liberia’s efforts to meet its growing power generation, transmission and distribution requirements.
Ms. Sherman says both countries will continue to collaborate on how they can encourage private sector investment in Liberia’s energy sector by improving regulatory policies and to accelerate the development of a well-governed and inclusive Liberian energy sector.
Under Secretary for Political Affairs Wendy Sherman hosted the inaugural session of the U.S.-Liberia Partnership Dialogue, Tuesday on May 7.
She was joined by a high-level Liberian delegation including the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister of Finance, Minister of Agriculture and Minister of Commerce and Industry.
The delegation is reportedly tasked to promote diplomatic and economic cooperation between the United States and Liberia.
Both countries committed to strengthen partnership
Earlier this year, the United States of America and Liberia have strengthened partnership by signing a Partnership Dialogue that will expand the cooperation between two countries and ensure high-level engagement for years to come.
The Partnership Dialogue will serve as a platform for future bilateral engagement primarily in the areas of agriculture and food security; energy and power; and human development.
Both countries e are taking another important step to deepen the partnership between our nations and to support Liberia as it continues down the path of democratic and economic reform.
First, in the areas of agriculture and food security, the US will be helping Liberia’s farmers use their land more effectively and get their crops to markets more efficiently.
Second area is the energy and power infrastructure. Ms. Clinton says that access to affordable, reliable energy is essential to creating jobs and sparking growth that helps to build a strong economy.
To give access for reliable energy to Liberia, the US will take stock of outstanding needs for the generation, transmission, and distribution of energy, promote a regulatory environment that’s friendly to new investments in energy, and look for ways to accelerate the development of a well-governed and inclusive energy sector.
And finally, the US wants to look at human development with a real emphasis on creating more economic opportunity for the people of Liberia to expand access to education and employment as well.
The United States has stood by Liberia during this challenging process.
Ms. Clinton says the developments in Liberia was aided considerably by the leadership of President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf launched the U.S.-Liberia Partnership Dialogue to ensure high-level diplomatic and economic cooperation between the United States and Liberia.
Both countries share a robust relationship and mutual commitment to advance of democracy.
Since the end of Liberia’s civil war in 2003, both countries have partnered to strengthen democracy and to promote economic stability.
Sirleaf was named by Forbes magazine as the 51st most powerful woman in the world in 2006. Newsweek listed her as one of the ten best leaders in the world in 2010.
