IPNEWS: President Joseph Nyuma Boakai Sr. has reaffirmed the strategic importance of ArcelorMittal Liberia to the country’s economic recovery, infrastructure development, and long-term growth, placing the company at the center of Liberia’s investment and legislative priorities for 2026.
Delivering his Annual Message to the 55th Legislature on Monday, President Boakai cited the Third Amendment to the Mineral Development Agreement with ArcelorMittal Holdings as one of the key pieces of pending legislation requiring urgent attention. He warned that delays in passing reform-oriented laws, including the amendment, could weaken efforts to strengthen institutions and accelerate economic growth.
“Also pending before you are the bills to establish the Civil Service Commission, and the Third Amendment to the Mineral Development Agreement with ArcelorMittal Holdings,” the President told lawmakers.
The reference positions ArcelorMittal Liberia not merely as a concessionaire, but as a central player in the Government’s broader reform agenda aimed at improving governance, investment confidence, and ensuring greater national benefits from natural resource extraction.
President Boakai further highlighted ArcelorMittal Liberia while outlining major investment agreements concluded by the Government in 2025. He disclosed that the amended agreement with ArcelorMittal Liberia, alongside a Concession and Access Agreement with Ivanhoe for the Yekepa–Buchanan rail corridor, represents part of approximately US$4 billion in committed investments.
According to the President, these investments are expected to drive economic growth, expand infrastructure, and create employment opportunities for Liberians. In 2025, the Government signed key agreements to boost economic growth, infrastructure, and employment, including an amended deal with ArcelorMittal Liberia.
Although not named repeatedly in the speech, ArcelorMittal Liberia’s impact was further reinforced through the President’s remarks on iron ore exports and mining-led growth. President Boakai reported that mining expanded by 17 percent in 2025 and that exports grew by over 31 percent, reaching about US$2.1 billion.
He noted that foreign investments in iron ore mining are strengthening Liberia’s external sector, boosting exports, improving the current account, and supporting foreign exchange stability.
The Annual Message further emphasized reforms in rail and port infrastructure, an area closely connected to ArcelorMittal Liberia’s operations. The Government’s push for concession and access agreements for the Yekepa–Buchanan rail corridor signals a policy direction toward shared-use infrastructure that supports multiple investors while safeguarding national interests.
The President’s address makes clear that ArcelorMittal Liberia remains a key pillar of Liberia’s economic agenda for 2026 and beyond.
