By Emmanuel M. Kangar, Jr.
Margibi County, Liberia — President Joseph Nyuma Boakai Sr. on Monday, March 30, officially opened the 2026 National Fisheries Investment Conference, dubbed “Kpongama,” at the Farmington Hotel, calling for increased investment to unlock Liberia’s vast marine potential.
Addressing regional ministers, development partners, and private investors, Boakai described the gathering—“Kpongama,” meaning “The Gathering” in Kpelle—as a turning point for Liberia’s fisheries sector, often referred to as a “sleeping giant.”
The President noted that despite Liberia’s 579-kilometer coastline and rich Exclusive Economic Zone, the country imports over 33,000 metric tons of fish annually. He acknowledged challenges facing artisanal fishers, including lack of cold storage, infrastructure, and market systems.
Boakai outlined reforms aimed at shifting the sector from reliance on industrial licensing fees to private-sector-led growth through public-private partnerships. He highlighted a €25 million European Union grant supporting artisanal fisheries, alongside new initiatives such as solar-powered cold storage and mobile payment systems in collaboration with Orange Liberia.
The government is also advancing plans for a national fishing harbor, fisheries complex, processing facilities, and an integrated aquaculture farm to boost local production and exports.
The conference will see the launch of key policy documents, including a 10-year National Fisheries Strategic Plan and a Public-Private Partnership Strategy.
Boakai urged regional cooperation to combat illegal fishing and invited investors to participate in building a sustainable “blue economy,” stressing that Liberia is “open for business, but not for exploitation.”
