The Ministry of Commerce & Industry (MoCI) has presented five Yamaha motorbikes with an insurance cost of over US$22,000 to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to enhance its operational capacity.
Presenting the items on Monday at the Ministry in Congo Town, Commerce Minister Magdalene E. Dagoseh, said the Ministry has been concerned about identifying with line ministries and agencies that are under the Liberia Investment and Finance Trade Project (LIFT-P).
The Minister noted that the support would enhance MSMEs’ growth and overall promote the Liberian government’s ARREST Agenda and expressed the need for collaboration between the Ministry of Commerce and EPA, including MSMEs in the country.
Minister Dagoseh also described the EPA as a good friend of hers, indicating that her fallen husband, Senator Edward Dagoseh and Dr. Foday Kromah were instrumental in bringing the EPA to Liberia.
“We have been with the EPA following all their activities, and so today we are happy to see the EPA receive these motorbikes to enhance their work, ensuring that the citizenry’s lives are improved,” she intoned.
According to her, the Ministry was pleased that the World Bank (WB) has delivered on whatever it had initially promised to boost the operational capacity of the EPA and admonished the recipient to ensure that the motorbikes are properly maintained.
Receiving the bikes on behalf of EPA Executive Director, Emmanuel Yarkpawolo Urey, the EPA Focal Person, John Jallah, thanked the Minister and team for the gesture, which he said would enhance the EPA’s ongoing decentralization process and promote local business enterprises.
Jallah also indicated that the EPA has been working to customize its licensing regime, expressing hope for more assistance from the Ministry and partners during and after this regime.
He added that one other key issue the EPA has been concerned about is the digitization and automation of its system so that there will be improvement in the turnaround period when it comes to MSMEs and environmental-related licensing.
It can be recalled that the EPA, in 2024, received 10 pieces of highly sophisticated GPS and 2 advanced cameras from the Commerce Ministry through the LIFT Project.
The five-year LIFT Project, implemented by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, with funding from the World Bank, focuses on improving the investment climate, supporting reforms, and private sector investment.
The initiative includes SMEs’ access to market, finance, and technical assistance programs that will prepare them for competition, increase revenue and create jobs. At the inception of the project, capacity building for government institutions was identified as one of the major challenges impeding project implementation and delivery.
It was at this juncture that the EPA was identified as one of the government agencies in need of support, particularly the provision of the requisite working tools to enhance its work and increase productivity.
