Press Release
MADE IN LIBERIA Trade Fair
(GBARNGA) June 13, 2008 – The United States Agency for International Development’s (USAID) Liberia Community Infrastructure Program (LCIP) in partnership with a Liberian civil society organization, Organization for the Development of Agriculture and Farmers Related Association (ODAFARA), held the 2nd Annual LCIP “MADE IN LIBERIA” Trade Fair at the William V.S. Tubman Gray High School in Gbarnga, Bong County. Over 450 small and micro-entrepreneurs and farmers from 13 counties are exhibiting their products and services. The first annual “MADE IN LIBERIA” Trade Fair was held in 2007 in Buchanan with 43 participating businesses from seven counties.
The Vice President of Liberia Joseph N. Boakai presided over the opening ceremony. Acting USAID Mission Director Frederic Scott, Minister of Commerce and Industry Cllr. Frances Johnson Morris, Hon. Rennie Jackson, Superintendent of Bong County and Hon. Julia Duncan-Casssell, Superintendent of Grand Bassa County and Chairman of the Superintendents’ Council spoke at the opening event.
The “MADE IN LIBERIA” trade fair is open to the public on the afternoon of June 13th and all day June 14th. Visitors can purchase artwork, crafts, furniture, wood work, metal work, jewelry, food products and fresh farm produce from Liberian vendors. A directory of participating businesses in the Trade Fair is available to wholesale and retail buyers.
Participation in the “MADE IN LIBERIA” trade fair was determined on a competitive basis. Selected businesses include participants from LCIP’s Rehabilitation of Apprentices and Artisans Program (RAP), LCIP cottage industries, and agricultural cooperatives.
Basic requirements for selection included a demonstrated record of proper maintenance and management of tools and equipment, provision and maintenance of clean latrines, and the provision of safe drinking water at the artisan shops. Selection criteria also included creative business ideas, consistent record keeping, and accurate implementation of learned business practices.
For two days prior to the “MADE IN LIBERIA” Trade Fair, the 450 participants were divided into groups of 45 for business development coaching. Ten speakers rotated from group to group covering business development topics such as customer service, accounting, hospitality management, improved value chain, market linkages, marketing, and micro-credit. On Sunday the 15th, the participating businesses will review lessons learned from the experience.
The trade fair intends to generate awareness of the range of products and services offered by Liberian businesses nationwide. For example, in the farming sector, production virtually stopped in Liberia for two decades, and simple techniques for food processing and preservation were not transferred, without which, surplus produce represents an economic loss. As a consequence, many basic goods and food items that were previously produced domestically are imported and sold at extraordinarily high prices.
Through the annual “MADE IN LIBERIA” Trade Fair, USAID’s LCIP aims to build the capacity of small Liberian entrepreneurs to compete, grow, and even export, as well as publicize the array of products and services that are and can be “Made in Liberia”. In his remarks Acting USAID Director, Frederic Scott said, “I hope the fair will encourage small businesses to grow, young people to learn new trades, small farmers to market food products, and the public to buy “Made in Liberia”.