IPNEWS: Liberia and India have concluded a high-level one-day seminar in Monrovia focusing on the vital role of the Indian diaspora in promoting trade, investment and development between the two countries.
The event, held at the Bella Casa Hotel, brought together government officials from both nations, business leaders, academics, writers and civil society representatives to discuss ways of enhancing bilateral cooperation and leveraging diaspora potential for sustainable growth.
Indian Ambassador to Liberia, Manoj Bihari Verma, lauded the Indian community in Liberia for its remarkable contributions to the nation’s economic and social progress.
He noted that the Indian diaspora has evolved over the past five decades from small-scale traders into a vibrant and influential community deeply integrated into Liberia’s development.
“In Liberia, the Indian community has played a significant role across various sectors from trade and commerce to education, healthcare, and beyond.
Their entrepreneurial spirit and cultural richness have left a lasting mark on Liberia’s economy,” Ambassador Verma stated.
He emphasized that the partnership between Liberia and India is rooted not only in diplomacy but also in shared democratic values, peace, and inclusive development.
The Ambassador revealed that India continues to support Liberia through scholarship programs, skills training, and capacity-building initiatives that are helping to empower Liberian youth and professionals.
According to him, the seminar served as a platform to recognize and document the contributions of the Indian diaspora, whose impact, though substantial, has not been formally studied or discussed in Liberia’s development discourse.
Representing the Government of Liberia, Deputy Minister of Information for Administration at the Ministry of Information Cultural Affairs and Tourism Johnny Tarkpah expressed appreciation to India for its continued support, especially in education and human resource development.
“Over four thousand Liberian students are currently benefiting from quality education and training in India across different fields,” Tarkpah disclosed.
He further revealed that trade between the two countries reached US$397 million between 2024 and 2025, a significant increase from the US$240 million recorded in the previous year.
He commended India for its role in supporting President Joseph Boakai’s ARREST Agenda, particularly in improving Liberia’s economy and development sectors.
Meanwhile, former Commerce and Industry Minister Amin Modad called on the Indian Government to go beyond trade and begin investing in key sectors of the Liberian economy such as agriculture, mining, information technology, health, education, and infrastructure.
“India’s involvement in Liberia should now focus on long-term investments that create jobs and promote sustainable development,” Modad stressed.
He urged both governments and their private sectors to build a strategic economic partnership that would ensure mutual growth and shared prosperity.
The seminar concluded with a renewed commitment by both nations to strengthen cooperation through the active engagement of the Indian diaspora, aimed at deepening trade relations, boosting investment opportunities, and advancing Liberia’s development agenda. By Amos Harris
