By Stephen G. Fellajuah
CONGO TOWN, Liberia, October 21, 2026: Liberia is seeking to attract greater investment, expand regional trade and create jobs as it hosts the 7th Prosperity Africa Conference, bringing together African business leaders, investors and policymakers to strengthen economic cooperation across the continent.
The three-day conference, held from October 20 to 22 at the EJS Ministerial Complex in Congo Town, is organized by the Pan African Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PACCI) in partnership with the Liberia Chamber of Commerce (LCC).
Held under the theme, “Innovation in Business Leadership & the Economics of Tomorrow,” the gathering marks Liberia’s first hosting of the continental business and investment conference.
Delivering the keynote address, Acting Commerce and Industry Minister Stephen M. Yekeson urged African business leaders to move beyond policy discussions and establish practical partnerships that promote investment, expand trade and generate employment.
“The economics of tomorrow will be shaped by decisions taken in rooms like this by leaders willing to take a considered risk on a country that is ready to deliver,” Yekeson said.
He described Liberia as an emerging investment destination, citing ongoing economic reforms and government efforts to create a predictable business environment.
“Liberia is open for business. Not as a slogan, but as a commitment to be predictable, to be fair, and to be a partner you can build with for the long term,” he emphasized.
Meanwhile, PACCI Executive Director Kebour Ghenna called for the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to become a practical instrument for economic transformation rather than merely an expanded marketplace.
He urged African countries with stronger industrial and financial capacities to invest in smaller economies, strengthen regional supply chains and facilitate technology and skills transfer.
Ghenna stressed the need to reduce Africa’s dependence on raw material exports by expanding manufacturing, improving access to trade financing and supporting local industries.
He also challenged chambers of commerce to provide practical assistance to businesses, including connecting entrepreneurs with buyers, financing and regional markets.
Earlier, Liberia Chamber of Commerce President O. Natty Davis II said the conference should produce tangible economic benefits for ordinary citizens and businesses.
He described prosperity as creating opportunities for businesses to expand, farmers to access reliable markets, women entrepreneurs to secure financing and local suppliers to obtain contracts.
Davis emphasized the importance of connecting major investments with Liberian enterprises and ensuring that economic growth translates into jobs and opportunities.
“I encourage every participant to approach our discussions and business meetings with a clear purpose. Identify a partnership you can advance. Explore a supplier you can develop. Consider an investment you can help prepare,” he urged.
Also speaking, Mamadou Baldé, Third Vice-President of the Federation of West African Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FEWACCI), called for the removal of cross-border trade barriers and improved infrastructure to accelerate regional economic integration.
Representing FEWACCI President Engr. Jani Ibrahim, Baldé urged governments and businesses to strengthen implementation of the ECOWAS Trade Liberalization Scheme and the AfCFTA.
He stressed that regional cooperation must translate into concrete investments, stronger supply chains and expanded opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises.
The conference is expected to facilitate business partnerships, attract investment interest and identify strategies for expanding intra-African trade and strengthening African enterprises.
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