The National Investment Commission (NIC) of Liberia has successfully concluded a week-long investor lead-generation mission to India, marking a major milestone in Liberia’s ongoing efforts to strengthen trade and investment relations with one of the world’s fastest-growing economies.
The mission which started October 27 spanned key business hubs in Mumbai and was led by Executive Director Melvin Sheriff Sr. and Director of Investment Promotion Dan Maxwell Jr. It was organized with technical support from Research FDI in partnership with the Financial Times’ fDi Strategies, and funded through the World Bank’s LIFT Project.
Over the course of five intensive days, the NIC delegation engaged with more than 15 leading Indian companies and trade associations across high-growth sectors including agribusiness, light manufacturing, energy, logistics, and infrastructure.
Key engagements included meetings with StarAgri, Everest Food Products (Everest Spices), CN Water Systems, Polycab India, Kandui Industries, Vishvaraj Group, KEC International, and Parekh Integrated Services (PISPL). At the institutional level, the team also held discussions with the SME Chamber of India, the Cotton Association of India, and the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM).
These discussions opened opportunities for Indian enterprises—both SMEs and conglomerates—to explore Liberia as a strategic gateway to the West African and ECOWAS market, representing over 350 million consumers.
Everest Spices expressed interest in sourcing Liberian chili pepper, with plans to establish a long-term agricultural sourcing partnership.
StarAgri explored potential investment in agritech and warehousing, aimed at strengthening regional value chains.
CN Water Systems discussed potential collaboration in purified-water systems to support Liberia’s industrial and healthcare infrastructure.
The SME Chamber of India and the NIC agreed to create a cooperation framework linking Indian SMEs with Liberian business opportunities, promoting job creation and technology transfer.
Throughout the mission, the NIC showcased Liberia’s ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development, underscoring the government’s pro-investment reforms, preferential ECOWAS market access, and abundant natural resources. Using investment promotion materials developed by fDi Strategies and Research FDI, the team highlighted Liberia’s competitive advantages in agribusiness, green construction, packaging, consumer goods, and rubber-based manufacturing, along with available fiscal incentives and special economic zone (SEZ) benefits.
Executive Director Melvin Sheriff, Sr. described the India mission as “a pivotal step in strengthening South–South investment cooperation and diversifying Liberia’s investor base.”
Director Dan Maxwell Jr. added that the NIC will continue to engage with each lead generated during the visit to facilitate exploratory missions to Liberia and advance concrete investment partnerships.
The NIC’s India mission reaffirms Liberia’s commitment to attracting quality, job-creating foreign direct investment, in line with the nation’s goals to industrialize, add value locally, and expand regional exports.
