Liberia plans partnership to link youth businesses with diaspora markets

The Youth Entrepreneurship Investment Bank Management Company (YEIB-MANCO) and the Office of Diaspora Affairs (ODA) are planning a partnership to connect young Liberian entrepreneurs with international markets, investors, and mentors.

During discussions at the Executive Mansion in Monrovia, officials identified a significant opportunity to export local products such as palm oil, gari, dried fish, and pepper to diaspora communities in the United States, Europe, and the ECOWAS region. The initiative aims to address a gap where products marketed as Liberian are currently being sourced from countries like Ghana and Malaysia.

The collaboration intends to pair YEIB-MANCO’s financing and business development tools with the ODA’s global networks. Key areas of cooperation include diaspora-backed co-financing, professional mentorship, and technical assistance to help micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) improve packaging, branding, and international quality standards. The partnership may also utilize the ODA’s planned Diaspora Professional Service Corps and the iLiberia digital platform to facilitate these connections.