15th May 2026
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has called on Liberia to undertake major regulatory and institutional reforms in order to fully benefit from the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). Speaking at a national workshop in Monrovia, UNDP Resident Representative Aliou Mamadou Dia said the continental trade agreement presents a major opportunity for Liberia to diversify its economy, promote innovation, and drive inclusive growth.
The three-day workshop, jointly organized by the ECOWAS Commission, UNDP, and Liberia’s Ministry of Commerce and Industry, brought together policymakers, regulators, private sector actors, academics, and development partners to assess Liberia’s readiness to participate effectively in Africa’s expanding trade in services market.
Dia emphasized that sectors such as finance, telecommunications, transport, tourism, logistics, education, and digital services could generate jobs and expand opportunities for women, youth entrepreneurs, and small businesses. However, he warned that these benefits would not materialize automatically unless Liberia modernizes and harmonizes its legal and regulatory frameworks to eliminate barriers to trade in services.
ECOWAS Chargé d’Affaires to Liberia, Dr. Nathaniel B. Walker, described AfCFTA as one of Africa’s flagship integration initiatives aimed at creating a single continental market for goods and services. He noted that trade in services accounts for more than 51 percent of Africa’s GDP and stressed the need for member states to strengthen reforms and improve competitiveness in preparation for full implementation of the agreement.
Liberia’s Deputy Minister for Commerce and Trade, Wilmot Reeves, highlighted the importance of the private sector in driving AfCFTA implementation and economic growth. The workshop concluded with technical discussions and breakout sessions focused on key service sectors, with participants expected to develop practical recommendations to improve Liberia’s regulatory environment and readiness for the AfCFTA Protocol on Trade in Services.