Hon. Magdalene Ellen Dagoseh Minister of Commerce & Industry

Q.1. Minister Magdalene Ellen Dagoseh, it is an honor and pleasure to interview you, and congratulations on your post as Minister of Commerce and Industry for the Republic of Liberia. Please share with us your background and your vision for the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

Thank you very much. It is truly an honor and privilege to serve as Minister of Commerce and Industry for the Republic of Liberia. I am deeply grateful to His Excellency the President of the Republic of Liberia for the trust and confidence reposed in me to lead this important institution at such a critical time in our nation’s development journey.

By way of background, I come to this role with a strong foundation in economic policy, development planning, and institutional leadership. Over the years, I have worked both in the public and private sectors, with a focus on inclusive economic growth, trade facilitation, private sector development, and institutional reform. My professional journey has reinforced my belief in the transformative power of commerce and industry to drive job creation, reduce poverty, and stimulate sustainable national growth.

My vision for the Ministry of Commerce and Industry is to reposition it as a catalyst for economic transformation—one that is efficient, transparent, investor-friendly, and responsive to the needs of Liberian businesses and consumers. This includes:

• Strengthening support for micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) to increase their access to finance, technology, and markets;

• Promoting trade and investment by simplifying business processes, reducing bureaucratic hurdles, and enhancing the overall ease of doing business in Liberia;

• Advancing digital transformation and innovation, including support for e-commerce and a cashless economy;

• Improving regulatory frameworks and consumer protection mechanisms to build public trust and confidence in the market;

• And most importantly, ensuring that our policies are inclusive, supporting youth, women entrepreneurs, and underserved communities across all counties.

Together with our partners, stakeholders, and the dedicated team at the Ministry, I am confident that we can build a vibrant, competitive, and resilient economy that works for all Liberians.

Q.2. Understanding that the President of the Republic of Liberia, His Excellency, Joseph N. Boakai, Sr., has established Commerce as a priority, please describe the progress your administration has made and what you are most proud of.

Thank you for that important question. Indeed, under the leadership of His Excellency President Joseph N. Boakai, Sr., commerce and private sector development have been placed at the center of Liberia’s national development agenda. The President’s vision is clear: to build a diversified, inclusive, and resilient economy driven by Liberian entrepreneurship, innovation, and investment. At the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, we are fully aligned with this mandate.

Since assuming office, we have made meaningful progress in several key areas, and I am proud to highlight a few:

1. Strengthening Support to MSMEs:

One of our top priorities has been empowering micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises. We have expanded access to finance and technical assistance, increased registration and formalization of businesses, and improved outreach across the counties ensuring that MSMEs are not only surviving but beginning to thrive.

2. Improving Trade Facilitation and Business Climate:

We are working closely with the Liberia Revenue Authority and other partners to simplify customs procedures and streamline import/export processes. We’ve also begun reviewing and modernizing business regulations to enhance the ease of doing business in Liberia.

3. Revitalizing the National Standards and Quality Infrastructure:

The Ministry has prioritized the enforcement of quality standards for goods and services, with a focus on protecting consumers and ensuring Liberian products can compete both locally and internationally.

4. Promoting a Digital and Cashless Economy:

In line with global trends and national needs, we are collaborating with key stakeholders to promote mobile money usage, support e-commerce platforms, and ensure our policies are inclusive of Liberia’s digital transformation goals.

5. Enhancing Institutional Capacity and Transparency:

We are undertaking internal reforms to strengthen the Ministry’s systems, improve service delivery, and promote greater transparency and accountability in all our dealings.

What I am most proud of is the renewed sense of purpose and partnership across government and with the private sector. Liberian entrepreneurs—especially women and youth—are responding to new opportunities with creativity and resilience. It is our job to create the enabling environment for them to succeed, and I am honored to lead that effort.

There is still much work to do, but we are on the right path, and I remain confident that, under the Boakai’s administration commerce will continue to serve as a powerful engine of economy transformation.

Q.3. Honorable Minister, what would you consider are your major priorities as Minister since your appointment? And what major projects and initiatives have you developed that will have an impact on the commercial industries in Liberia?

Thank you for that thoughtful question. Since my appointment as Minister of Commerce and Industry, I have been guided by a clear set of priorities that align with the broader vision of His Excellency President Joseph N. Boakai, Sr.—to create a resilient, inclusive, and private sector-led economy that works for all Liberians.

Major Priorities

1. Private Sector Empowerment and MSME Growth

A core priority of mine is the development of Liberia’s micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), which are the backbone of our economy. We are working to increase access to finance, markets, and capacity-building for entrepreneurs across the country, with a strong emphasis on women- and youth-led businesses.

2. Improving the Business Climate and Trade Facilitation

We are focused on reducing bureaucratic bottlenecks, modernizing business registration systems, and streamlining the regulatory environment to attract both domestic and foreign investment. This includes reforms aimed at improving Liberia’s standing in global ease-of-doing-business rankings.

3. Value Addition and Industrial Development

A key shift we are driving is moving from an import-dependent model to one that promotes value addition and light manufacturing. By supporting agro-processing, packaging industries, and industrial zones, we aim to create jobs, reduce the trade deficit, and increase exports of Liberian-made goods.

4. Standards, Consumer Protection, and Market Regulation

We are reinforcing national quality standards and consumer protection frameworks to ensure that goods and services in the market meet acceptable levels of safety and fairness. This is vital for both consumer confidence and export viability.

5. Digital Transformation and Innovation

Embracing a cashless and digitally driven economy is another key focus. We’re advancing policies that support mobile money, e-commerce, and digitized government-to-business services. This will help formalize the informal sector and extend services to rural areas.

Key Projects and Initiatives • Liberia Investment Finance & Trade (LIFT) Project.

This initiative, implemented through the PIU with World Bank support, aims to provide financing and technical assistance to MSMEs affected by past economic shocks. So far, hundreds of SMEs have benefited from grants and business development services.

• National MSME Strategy (2025–2030)

We are finalizing a comprehensive long-term strategy that outlines clear targets, support mechanisms, and sectorial priorities to grow and sustain MSMEs over the next five years.

• Digital Marketplace and E-Commerce Policy Framework

We are developing a national policy to guide and regulate the digital marketplace. This includes empowering Liberian businesses to sell goods and services online and facilitating secure mobile payments.

• Public-Private Dialogue (PPD) Platform

We have revitalized dialogue platforms between the Ministry and the business community to ensure policy decisions reflect real-time challenges and solutions from the private sector.

• Liberia Made Campaign

This initiative promotes the consumption and export of locally produced goods, fostering national pride and strengthening the domestic value chain.

These priorities and projects are just the beginning. We are laying a strong foundation that will ensure sustainability, create employment opportunities, and enhance Liberia’s competitiveness in the regional and global markets. I remain committed to a results-driven approach that delivers tangible benefits to the Liberian people.

Q.4. Recognizing that the private sectors may be preparing the workforce for tomorrow, are you offering any incentives to help them achieve their objectives? Are you encouraging Small and Medium Enterprises to grow, if so, by what means?

Absolutely. We fully recognize that the private sector is the engine of growth and plays a critical role in preparing the workforce for the future. As Minister, one of my key responsibilities is to create the enabling environment for businesses, especially small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), to not only survive but succeed, innovate, and contribute meaningfully to national development.

Incentives and Support for the Private Sector

To help the private sector achieve its objectives in workforce development and job creation, we are pursuing several targeted incentives and interventions:

1. Access to Finance and Grants for SMEs

Through programs such as the LIFT-ACCELRATE 360- and YEIB projects, we are offering financial support, including matching grants, to SMEs that demonstrate growth potential, especially in key sectors like agriculture, services, and light manufacturing.

2. Business Development Services and Training

We are working with partners to provide SMEs with capacity-building programs in areas such as financial literacy, marketing, digital skills, and business planning. This will not only strengthen their internal operations but also equips them to hire and train more qualified workers.

3. Tax and Regulatory Incentives

In collaboration with the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning, we are reviewing policies around tax incentives and simplified compliance for startups and small businesses to reduce their operational burden, particularly for those reinvesting in workforce training and expansion.

4. Encouraging Youth and Women Entrepreneurship

We are prioritizing support for women- and youth-led businesses through targeted financing, mentoring programs, and inclusion in public procurement opportunities.

Yes, we are actively encouraging the growth of Small and Medium Enterprises, which are the backbone of job creation and economic diversification in Liberia. Key strategies include:

• Formalization Support: Making business registration and compliance easier, faster, and more affordable, especially through the Liberia Business Registry.

• Market Access: Creating platforms for Liberian SMEs to access both local and regional markets, including participation in trade fairs and “Liberia Made” promotion campaigns.

• Infrastructure and Logistics Support: Partnering with other government agencies to improve the infrastructure and logistics ecosystem, such as access to electricity, transportation, and digital tools that SMEs need to scale.

We believe that a strong, well-supported private sector is essential to building the Liberia we envision, one where jobs are created at home, talents are nurtured locally, and prosperity is shared widely. That is why SME empowerment, innovation, and workforce readiness remain central pillars of our work at the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

Q.5. Finally, Madame Minister, is there anything else you would like to add at this time?

Thank you once again for the opportunity to share the vision and work of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

As I close, I would like to emphasize that this is a defining moment for Liberia. We have a real opportunity to transform our economy in a way that is inclusive, sustainable, and led by Liberians. The Ministry of Commerce and Industry stands ready to play its part in shaping that future by fostering innovation, strengthening institutions, empowering our entrepreneurs, and attracting responsible investment.

But we cannot do it alone. We need strong partnerships with the private sector, development partners, civil society, and most importantly, the Liberian people. If we are to truly unlock our potential, we must work together with a shared sense of purpose, accountability, and urgency.

To every Liberian entrepreneur, trader, and investor: know that your government is listening, and we are working to create the environment you need to succeed. Together, we can build a more competitive Liberia, one business at a time.

Thank you, and I look forward to continued engagement as we move Liberia forward.

On behalf of the International (IF) Magazine in Houston, Texas USA, Atlanta, Georgia USA and Monrovia, Liberia, West Africa, thank you, Madame Minister.

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