As Liberia prepares to court international investors in Europe, the Liberia Agricultural Company (LAC) says it will carry a strong message to Brussels: The West African nation is open for business, rich in opportunity and committed to sustainable, inclusive growth.
Executives of the company will participate in a high-level investment conference scheduled for February 24–25 in Brussels, Belgium, where government officials and private-sector actors are expected to promote Liberia as a prime destination for foreign direct investment, particularly in the private sector.
LAC, one of Liberia’s oldest agricultural concessionaires, has been invited to present its experience and vision for responsible investment in the country.
Dr. Julien Bastrup-Birk, Secretary-General of SOCFIN, LAC’s parent company, said his recent visit to Liberia was aimed at aligning the company’s presentation with the government’s broader economic agenda.
“I came here to Liberia in order to understand the Liberian vision for the business sector and how the country intends to catalyze foreign investments,” Bastrup-Birk said.
He disclosed that meetings were held with stakeholders across both the Executive and Legislative branches of government.
“At a high level, it is clear that the President has a clear strategy for maximizing foreign investment under his ARREST policy agenda,” he noted.
According to Bastrup-Birk, discussions with the Grand Bassa Legislative Caucus stood out, particularly their emphasis on long-term, integrated development rather than investment in isolation.
“What was particularly interesting was their focus on developing the economy in an integrated way,” he said. “Their vision includes agriculture, production, road infrastructure and railway connections to seaports- creating an ecosystem that enable goods produced in Grand Bassa to be manufactured and exported efficiently. That kind of integrated, sustainable economic development- which also includes job creation-is very positive.”
He stressed that LAC’s core message to international partners will center on Liberia’s vast natural endowments and youthful workforce.
“Liberia is a country full of potential and enormous opportunities,” Bastrup-Birk said. “It is rich in natural resources and has a young, energetic workforce. That combination is unique. But any involvement in Liberia must be responsible and give back to the country.”
LAC, which has operated in Liberia since 1959, intends not only to maintain its investment but to deepen its impact through sustainability and community-focused initiatives.
“We have invested significantly in the company and aim to retain our investment while exploring more opportunities to work with smallholders and local communities,” Bastrup-Birk emphasized. “Our expansion will be centered on sustainability, education, healthcare, professional jobs and infrastructure support.”
LAC General Manager Naveen Madan reinforced the company’s commitment to strengthening Liberia’s smallholder farming sector, which he described as a critical engine for future growth.
“What we are focusing on mainly in Liberia is improving the smallholder sector because we see huge potential there,” Madan said. “There is land, there are farmers, and there is willingness — but the market has not been fully tapped.”
He revealed that LAC’s strategy closely aligns with the government’s agricultural priorities following engagements with the Agriculture Ministry.
“I recently interacted with the agriculture minister. His vision is centered on the smallholder sector, and we fully align with that- particularly in technology transfer, provision of materials and land preparation using GPS farm layout systems,” he said.
Under the initiative, LAC provides planting materials at a subsidized rates and offers tapping equipment on a loan basis, enabling farmers to repay gradually with the production income. The company also guarantees a market for smallholders’ produce.
“It is one thing to provide technical skills, but if farmers struggle to sell their produce, the effort falls short. We have assured them that we will buy their output,” Madan said. “Our smallholder farm Manager regularly visits their farms, just as we do with our own plantations.”
He added that the initiative strengthens relations with host communities while addressing operational challenges.
As the Brussels conference approaches, LAC executives say their message will be clear: Liberia offers significant opportunities for investors though the challenges will also need to be addressed to encourage existing concessionaires to stay & attract new ones.
