-In Brussels
By Vaye Abel Lepolu
Liberia is expected to participate in the Liberia–European Union (EU) Business Forum scheduled for February 24–25 in Brussels, Belgium, a high-level international economic engagement aimed at strengthening trade, investment, and development cooperation between Africa and Europe, while also advancing social protection and the fight against gender-based violence (GBV).
The forum will bring together EU and African countries to promote a shared vision for economic growth, sustainable development, job creation, improved governance, and stronger business partnerships across the continent. Liberia’s participation is expected to open new opportunities for European investment, deepen long-standing development cooperation, and strengthen commitments to social justice, gender equality, and human rights.
European Union Ambassador to Liberia, Ambassador Nona Deprez, confirmed Liberia’s inclusion in the forum, describing the EU as a predictable, reliable, and long-standing partner to Liberia.
“Europe is Africa’s neighbor, and Africa and the European Union are major economic partners,” Ambassador Deprez said. “The EU is not only a trading partner but also a major investor. This partnership is rooted in shared values, long-term cooperation, human rights, gender equality, and sustainable development.”
She noted that EU imports from Africa have grown significantly over the last decade, while European investment in Africa continues to expand, making the EU one of the continent’s largest and most consistent development and investment partners. Through the EU’s “Everything But Arms” trade scheme, all Liberian exports to the EU, except arms, enter the European market duty-free and quota-free, giving Liberian businesses improved access to European markets.
Ambassador Deprez stressed that the upcoming EU–Liberia Business Forum is focused on growth, jobs, improving the business environment, and building inclusive development.
“This forum is particularly important because everything we do here in Liberia is centered around growth and jobs,” she stated. “We want to attract further European investment into Liberia that creates employment, supports economic transformation, and improves livelihoods.”
She highlighted key sectors where the EU is actively supporting Liberia, including:
Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET): Construction and renovation of TVET schools across Liberia’s 15 counties, teacher training, and provision of modern equipment in trades such as welding, automotive mechanics, and hospitality.
Education: Support through the Global Partnership for Education and joint programs with the World Bank to strengthen Liberia’s basic education system.
Infrastructure and Energy: Investment in roads, electricity distribution, hydropower, and solar energy projects, including major electrification initiatives in Monrovia and southeastern Liberia.
Agriculture and Food Security: Development of improved rice seeds, soil mapping, value chain development for crops such as cocoa and coffee, and strengthening of food safety systems.
Environmental Protection: Biodiversity conservation, forest protection, climate change mitigation, and promotion of sustainable livelihoods for forest communities.
Governance and Democracy: Support for elections, civil society organizations, human rights defenders, media development, public finance management, and budget transparency.
Gender Equality and Protection: Strong emphasis on women’s empowerment, inclusion of women in economic opportunities, and EU-backed programs aimed at addressing gender-based violence (GBV), protecting vulnerable groups, and strengthening institutional responses to violence against women and girls.
Ambassador Deprez reaffirmed the EU’s commitment to sustainable development, climate action, democracy, and social justice, stressing that economic growth must go hand-in-hand with human dignity, equality, and protection of rights.
All these efforts, she said, are aimed at making the EU–Liberia Business Forum in Brussels a success and positioning Liberia as an attractive destination for responsible European investment.
“The objective is to attract European investment into Liberia, create jobs, support inclusive growth, strengthen governance, and build a safer, more just society where women and girls are protected and empowered,” she declares.
