By Linus Flomo
The Mayor of the Monrovia City Corporation (MCC), John-Charuk Siafa, has expressed profound gratitude to the Government of India and its Embassy in Liberia for their continued support in enhancing the skills and capabilities of MCC staff through strategic capacity-building programs.
Under the leadership of Mayor Siafa, the MCC has forged a significant partnership with the Indian Embassy, aimed at improving the professional competencies of its employees to ensure effective and efficient service delivery in the city.
As part of this initiative, seven MCC staff members recently traveled to India for advanced training in various professional fields, facilitated through the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) program.
In a ceremony held on Friday to honor the beneficiaries, Mayor Siafa emphasized the importance of capacity building in driving the corporation’s development goals.
He noted that the long-term vision of the MCC could not be realized without a qualified, skilled workforce.
The mayor described the employees as the “most valuable assets” of the institution, stressing that their enhanced skills would directly contribute to the city’s growth and transformation.
“I am deeply grateful to the Government of India and its Embassy for this invaluable gesture. This training initiative aligns perfectly with one of the key pillars of the ARREST AGENDA,” said Mayor Siafa, referring to the national government’s focus on capacity-building and sustainable development.
Mayor Siafa also urged the trained employees to remain committed and focused on the corporation’s mission of transforming Monrovia, assuring them that decisions would always be made with their best interests at heart.
The Indian Ambassador to Liberia, Jitendra S. Rawat, thanked the MCC for honoring him and the Embassy.
He expressed India’s continued commitment to South-South cooperation, explaining that capacity building through initiatives like ITEC was a cornerstone of India’s diplomatic and development efforts.
“India’s support for capacity building is not only about training individuals, but also about fostering long-term relationships and contributing to the growth of our partner countries,” Ambassador Rawat said.
He encouraged the MCC to continue to take full advantage of ITEC’s offerings by submitting applications for various training courses throughout the year.
The ceremony also provided an opportunity for the MCC staff members who benefited from the training to express their appreciation.
They thanked Mayor Siafa and the Indian Embassy for the opportunity to expand their knowledge and skills.
The staff members assured the gathering that they would strategically apply the knowledge gained in their training to contribute to the development and modernization of Monrovia.
Ambassador Rawat was presented with a beautifully crafted traditional Liberian attire, symbolizing the strong bond between Liberia and India.
Two certificates of appreciation were awarded to Ambassador Rawat and the Indian Embassy in recognition of their pivotal role in supporting the MCC’s capacity-building efforts.
The collaboration between the MCC and the Indian Embassy represents a promising step forward in fostering international partnerships aimed at strengthening local governance and service delivery.
Through continued capacity-building initiatives, both institutions are working towards creating a more competent, efficient workforce that will contribute to the sustainable development of Monrovia and Liberia as a whole.
