By Bill W. Cooper
The Liberia Business Association (LIBA) has stressed the need for government to appropriate US$10 million or more for the empowerment of Liberian-owned businesses.
According to LIBA’s Chairperson on Commerce and Trade, Dominic Nimely, if said amount is placed in the national budget, it will help empower Liberians to compete with foreign businesses and as well take charge of their own economy in fulfillment of President George Weah’s assertion during his inaugural address.
In January of 2018, President Weah promised that during his presidency, Liberians will not be spectators in their own economy but will take full charge; although said statement is yet to be realized.
Addressing a news conference yesterday, Mr. Nimely who is also the National Chairperson of the Patriotic Entrepreneurs of Liberia (PARTEL) noted that Liberian businesses are being strangulated due to the lack of support from central government; something he said is giving rise to the influx of foreigners into the country’s economy.
Nimely also used the occasion to request an audience with President Weah intended to address the numerous challenges Liberian businesses are being confronted with daily.
According to him, the need for the leadership of LIBA to meet with the Liberian leader cannot be overemphasized, adding, “We have to see this President and inform him about the many issues in the business community of this country.”
“This meeting is not just to see the face of President Weah but to also put forth our problems and we believe that he will now be the one to inform the legislators about our problems by appropriating the US$45 to US$10 million in the national budget,” he explained.
“Remember, now, we are having national crisis in this country everyday ranging from the increase in the prices of gasoline, rice and other basic commodities. So if Liberians are empowered by placing them in the driver’s seat of our economy, we will no longer experience those artificial shortages being created by foreigners on our market again,” he maintained.
Meanwhile, the LIBA Chairperson on Commerce and Trade has lauded the Commissioner General of the Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA), Thomas Doe-Nah for the cancelation of BIVAC and the halting of the recently imposed charges on goods and services at the Freeport of Liberia.