National Export Strategy (NES) of the Republic of Liberia.

The National Export Strategy (NES) of Liberia is a national Strategy with a cross-sectoral approach. The duration of the Strategy is 4 years from 2014 to 2018. The main objective of the Strategy is to improve the export development potential of selected sectors which are: cocoa, oil palm, fish, crustaceans, and rubber; to contribute the socioeconomic growth of Liberia. The production of cocoa, oil palm, rubber as well as fish and crustacean will be increased in an environmentally sustainable and socially equitable manner.

The Strategy sets out that rural poverty will be reduced by ensuring the inclusive, equitable and sustainable production in the selected sectors. As the growth in the production of the selected sectors will lead to employment generation and economic growth. Furthermore, the MoA will develop policies in the sector aimed at helping sector stakeholders to develop self-sufficiency in food production, increase the country’s ability to earn and generate foreign exchange, and increase farmers’ incomes and purchasing power. The Strategy sets out a gender sensitive approach in reducing rural poverty. The NES will increase the access of women and girls to inputs and services and will create an enabling environment for them to carry out productive functions and to be employed in different phases of agricultural production.

To ensure a more inclusive and efficient agricultural and food system the Strategy will create an enabling environment to encourage investment and entrepreneurship and develop the domestic private sector, including micro, small and medium Enterprises. To this end the Liberian business environment will be improved and strengthened as a prerequisite for developing export competitiveness in the country. According to the Strategy this will occur through concerted action to : improve regulatory mechanisms ;improve processes involved in importing and exporting; and reduce bribe-seeking behavior. The capacity of public and private trade support institutions. The NES will encourage increased domestic processing of raw material to add value and export highly differentiated products. Sectors with the potential for attracting domestic and foreign investment will be supported. Further the Strategy will address human capital needs and institutions such as universities, the National Standards Laboratory and other government facilities to enhance productive capacity to meet local demand and enable exports. 

The Strategy also sets out that it will be ensured that the private actors including trade support institutions, smallholder farmers, and cooperatives will contribute and participate to the decision making and implementation. The infrastructure for the selected sectors will be re-established and/or improved such as roads, railways, ports, and bridges. Poor conditions for the harvesting, storage, processing, and transportation of agricultural and marine products will be improved. A broad range of services such as refrigerated logistics, cold storage facilities, handling services will be developed to reduce the weak cold chain infrastructure inhibits the agriculture sector. Availability of sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) control and inspection facilities will be developed to satisfy national and international quality requirements in marine and agricultural products. 

The quantity and quality food processing centers will be increased to especially for the processing of spices, cassava, and palm oil as well as for the smoked and drying fish sectors. The animal husbandry and veterinary services will be strengthened. A mechanism for inspection and enforcement of quality standards will be developed.

The Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI) is the responsible authority from the implementation of this Strategy. Other institutions in collaboration with the MOCI are the Ministry of Agriculture ( MoA ), the Ministry of Finance (MOF) and the Industry Coordination Committee ( ICC ).