Foreign Minister Beysolow Nyanti Hails Japan for New Grant Agreement To Liberia

MONROVIA – The exchange of notes and the 43 million yen grant agreement for the extension of the Japan Freeway—the road corridor connecting the Gabriel Tucker Bridge and the Freeport of Monrovia—have been praised by Liberia’s Foreign Minister, H.E. Sara Beysolow Nyanti, and the people of Japan.
Beysolow Nyanti, the foreign minister, expressed how intrigued she was to hear from Ambassador George W. Wallace that the table was not merely surface-level; rather, it was a representation of diplomacy at its core, speaking to decades of relationships and the impacts Japan has had on Liberia.

The fact that there are prominent leaders and diplomats in Liberia who have profited from Japan’s investment there, as well as the signing of infrastructure development agreements today, indicate Japan’s comprehensive interest in the country, according to Foreign Minister Beysolow Nyanti.
She gave the ambassador’s delegation her word that Liberia and Japan would continue to strengthen their current relationship. H.E. President Joseph Nyuma Boakai has further stated the priorities, which include roads, agriculture, tourism, education, sanitation, and the rule of law, the Dean of the Cabinet told the group. Fundamentally, all of these are useless if women cannot access roads for agricultural purposes.

The chief diplomat for Liberia stated that the signing is a manifestation of the Japanese government’s long-term intentions, and Liberia looks forward to strengthening its ties with them.
Speaking on Monday, March 5, 2024, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs during the Exchange of Notes and Grant Agreement signing ceremony for the extension of the Japan Freeway—the road corridor between the Freeport of Monrovia and the Gabriel Tucker Bridge—Minister Beysolow Nyanti stated that these social economic infrastructures are focused on creating jobs, generating income, and establishing sustainable livelihoods beyond just aid.

According to H.E. Mr. Mochizuki Hisanobu, the Japanese Ambassador to Liberia, the Japanese government recognizes the significance of this project for Liberia, which is why the Japanese Parliament is making every effort to finish the last procedures in order for the project to get underway.
In order for JICA and the project’s consultant to have all the information they need to help the Parliament finish its internal procedures, Ambassador Hisanobu stated that today’s signing ceremony for the detailed design is necessary. He also noted that Japan recognizes the significance of building a strong infrastructure foundation and the potential role it may play in boosting and stimulating the economy.

The development of infrastructure in Africa has been a central focus of the Tokyo International Conference on Africa Development (TICAD), as Ambassador Hisanobu emphasized. Japan has always vowed to support the infrastructure development of Africa.At the bilateral level, one of the main tenets of Japan-Liberia cooperation, according to Ambassador Hisanobu, is the development of infrastructure. “In 2013 and 2016, respectively, we started building on Phases 1 and 2 of the former Somali Drive, which is now known as the Japan Freeway.

The effective completion of these two stages may be attributed to the collaboration between JICA and the Ministry of Public Works in Liberia. As stated by Ambassador Hisanobu, “Today we are formalizing another procedure that will build upon the high-quality Phases 1 and 2 of the Japan Freeway.” According to the Japanese Ambassador, over the years, major infrastructure development and technical support have materialized as a result of Japan and Liberia’s bilateral collaboration.