Liberia : NaFAA–World Bank Fisheries Meeting in Thailand Advances Investment and Job Creation
The Director General of the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority (NaFAA), J. Cyrus Saygbe, Sr., has held high-level discussions with Valerie Hickey, Director for Environment and Blue Economy at the World Bank Group, on expanding fisheries investment to attract private businesses, create jobs, and strengthen livelihoods in Liberia.
The meeting took place on the sidelines of the 2026 Annual Meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank Group in Bangkok, Thailand. Discussions centered on progress under the Liberia Sustainable Management of Fisheries Project (LSMFP) and the investment needed to translate these achievements into broader economic opportunities.
Briefing Director Hickey, Director General Saygbe highlighted advances under the World Bank-supported project in fisheries management, aquaculture development, livelihood support, and preparations for critical infrastructure investments. He reported that project disbursement had exceeded 80 percent and emphasized the importance of sustaining implementation momentum.
Director General Saygbe stressed that continued financing for infrastructure, productive capacity, and fisheries value chains would help consolidate these gains and create conditions for greater private sector participation.
He identified opportunities for commercial investment in aquaculture, fish processing, cold storage, transportation, fisheries infrastructure, and related services. He noted that addressing infrastructure gaps and strengthening the business environment would enable investors to establish and expand enterprises while keeping more economic value within Liberia.
The Director General emphasized that investment must deliver practical benefits for Liberians, particularly women and young people. These benefits, he explained, should include employment, enterprise development, increased productivity, and improved incomes in fisheries-dependent communities.
He further highlighted the sector’s potential to contribute more substantially to national economic growth, food and nutrition security, and economic diversification through sustainable fisheries management and aquaculture expansion.
For her part, Director Hickey commended the progress achieved under the LSMFP, describing its implementation trajectory as a remarkable turnaround. She emphasized the importance of sustaining this momentum through continued collaboration and investment.
Director Hickey also underscored the private sector’s role in driving economic growth and creating jobs. She highlighted the need for conditions that allow businesses to invest, innovate, expand production, and generate employment.
The discussions emphasized the complementary roles of strategic public investment and private enterprise in advancing Liberia’s fisheries sector. Investment in infrastructure, institutional capacity, sustainable resource management, and value addition would help strengthen investor confidence and support more productive and competitive fisheries businesses.
The engagement reaffirmed the importance of cooperation between the Government of Liberia and the World Bank Group in consolidating project achievements and exploring opportunities for expanded investment.
According to an official NaFAA press release, the Authority remains committed to transforming Liberia’s fisheries and aquaculture potential into sustainable businesses, improved livelihoods, and job opportunities, while safeguarding the resources that sustain fishing communities.
Source : NaFAA
