Liberia's fisheries regulator flew to Thailand for a World Bank-backed meeting with one clear pitch: the country's fish sector is open for business, and the funding is already moving.
The project in question has disbursed more than 80% of its funds, giving investors a concrete signal that Liberia is serious about following through. The focus is on three areas where private capital is most needed: aquaculture, fish processing, and cold storage. Right now, too much of the value in Liberia's catch leaves the country before it can create local wealth or local jobs.
The argument regulators are making is straightforward. Close the infrastructure gaps, and the sector becomes a genuine engine for employment and economic growth. Cold storage alone, often overlooked, is the link between a good catch and a product someone can actually sell further down the supply chain.
Whether private investors answer the call is the question Liberia now has to wait on.
Originally published by AllAfrica.