By: Julius Konton
IPNEWS: Liberia has marked a significant milestone in its re-engagement with the global economy as Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sara Beysolow Nyanti, leads the country’s official delegation to the 56th Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF), underway from January 19 to 23, 2026, in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland.
The high-powered delegation includes Minister of Finance and Development Planning, Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan, and Chairman of the National Investment Commission (NIC), Jeff Blibo, reflecting a coordinated, whole-of-government strategy to reposition Liberia as a credible destination for international investment and development partnerships.
A Historic Moment in Liberia’s Global Re-engagement
Liberia’s presence at WEF Davos is being described by officials as historic, symbolizing the country’s growing international credibility following years of post-conflict recovery, debt relief, institutional reforms, and renewed macroeconomic stabilization efforts.
Liberia, Africa’s first independent republic founded in 1847, endured prolonged civil conflict between 1989 and 2003, which devastated its economy and infrastructure.
Since then, successive administrations supported by international partners have focused on peace consolidation, governance reforms, and economic recovery.
According to World Bank data, Liberia’s GDP, which contracted sharply during the Ebola crisis and COVID-19 pandemic, has gradually rebounded, with growth averaging 4–5 percent in recent years, driven largely by agriculture, mining, and services.
Driving Economic Diplomacy and Investment Confidence
Under Minister Nyanti’s leadership, the Liberian delegation is advancing an economic diplomacy agenda aimed at deepening strategic partnerships, improving investor confidence, and promoting responsible and sustainable investment.
On the margins of the Forum, Liberia’s team is engaging global policymakers, development finance institutions, multinational corporations, and institutional investors to present the country’s macroeconomic outlook, ongoing fiscal and governance reforms, and expanding opportunities across priority sectors such as agriculture, renewable energy, infrastructure, mining, and digital services.
Government officials say special emphasis is being placed on job creation, private-sector–led growth, and inclusive development, particularly for Liberia’s youthful population, which accounts for more than 60 percent of the country’s nearly 5.4 million people.
High-Level Roundtable on Liberia’s Future
A major highlight of Liberia’s Davos engagement will be a senior-level roundtable discussion titled “The Future of Liberia:
Global Partnerships and Economic Diplomacy.”
The event is organized by Liberia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs in partnership with Foreign Policy magazine and is scheduled for Tuesday, January 20, 2026, at the Financial Times House (Hotel Parsenn).
Minister Nyanti is expected to deliver opening remarks, setting the tone for discussions with 15 to 20 high-level participants, including global investors, chief executives, and representatives of leading development finance institutions.
Finance Minister Ngafuan will deliver a keynote address, outlining Liberia’s progress toward investment readiness, priority reform initiatives, and opportunities across key economic sectors.
Discussions will also highlight Liberia’s historic election as an incoming non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, a development widely seen as reinforcing the country’s rising diplomatic profile and commitment to regional stability and global cooperation.
A panel discussion featuring Minister Nyanti, Minister Ngafuan, and NIC Chairman Jeff Blibo will further explore how Liberia is leveraging diplomacy, reform, and private-sector engagement to accelerate long-term development.
WEF 2026: A Global Platform at a Critical Time
The World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2026 is being held under the theme “A Spirit of Dialogue,” against the backdrop of heightened global uncertainty driven by geopolitical tensions, inflationary pressures, climate risks, and rapid technological change.
Nearly 3,000 participants from more than 130 countries are attending, including approximately 400 political leaders among them nearly 65 heads of state and government and over 850 CEOs and chairpersons of leading global companies.
The Forum remains one of the world’s most influential platforms for shaping global economic and development conversations.
A Unified National Vision
Liberia’s participation at Davos led by Foreign Minister Nyanti and supported by the Finance and Investment authorities underscores a unified national approach to economic diplomacy.
Officials say the goal is clear: to attract long-term partnerships, mobilize capital, create jobs, and lay the foundation for inclusive growth and sustainable development.
As Liberia steps onto the global stage at Davos, observers say the country’s message is one of renewal, reform, and readiness signaling its intent to move decisively from recovery toward resilience and prosperity in the global economy.
