The Liberia Airport Authority (LAA) has welcomed and expressed its enthusiastic acceptance of support from the Turkish Government aimed at modernizing and expanding the Roberts International Airport (RIA).
The agreement came after a closed-door meeting between Foreign Minister Sara Beysolow Nyanti and the Turkish President Recep TayyipErdogan on the sidelines of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum, where Minister Nyanti made a compelling case for government-to-government (G2G) cooperation to upgrade the Roberts International Airport.
LAA’s Managing Director, Jero Mends-Cole, emphasized the importance of the partnership, terming it as a boost to Liberia’s aviation sector.
“We are grateful for Turkey’s commitment to our development goals. This project not only represents a boost to the RIA facility and our aviation sector but also signifies a strengthening of bilateral relations between Liberia and Turkey,” Mends-Cole said.
Commenting on the preparation for the arrival of the delegation from the Turkish Government, LAA’s Boss stated,” we are working collaboratively with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Office of the President to welcome the high-level Turkish delegation to be dispatched to Liberia. The delegation is to assess the airport’s infrastructure and lay the groundwork for the airport expansion. Thanks to Madam Nyanti for making the case of LAA”.
The Turkish delegation’s visit to Liberia is expected within weeks and will include on-the-ground assessments, technical consultations, and discussions on financing models.
The partnership is expected to enhance the airport’s infrastructure, improve passenger experience, and boost economic growth in Liberia.
If successful, the partnership could pave the way for a full-scale modernization of RIA, turning it into a regional hub capable of handling increased passenger and cargo traffic.
