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Liberian President George Weah has supported calls for a greater role for agriculture in his country's economy.
Speaking 25th At a donor meeting with African Development Bank President Akinwumi Adesina in July 2019, Weah said his government was considering the creation of an agricultural bank.
Adesina was quick to point out that such a bank should be called an "agrifood bank" to recognize the economic benefits of transitioning from primary production to industrial marketing.
Mr. Weah acknowledged the tremendous contribution of the African Development Bank to the development of Liberia and underscored his Government's commitment to transforming the lives of Liberians through the decisive implementation of the national development framework, the agenda for poor for prosperity and development.
President Adesina confirmed that the African Development Bank and the Liberian Government will join to create new opportunities for the Liberian economy. He also commended the Liberian government for the successful review of its payroll and for the quality of the talks it is pursuing with the International Monetary Fund.
"A system based on rents and royalties can not fight corruption. There can be no added value and process for economic developmentSaid Adesina.
Adesina also said that Liberia was endowed with fertile land and significant agricultural potential and that it should not have to spend $ 20 million a year to import rice, its staple food. He added that if the Liberian infrastructure was adequate, investing heavily in agriculture would rapidly transform the Liberian economy by creating jobs for its population, of which 46% were under 50 years old.
He pledged the support of the African Development Bank to Liberia through the project of improving productivity and marketing of agriculture by small farms, in order to create transformation zones. Special agro-industrial near farmers, where there would be electricity and water, roads and facilities to produce and transform staple crops, creating more jobs.
Adesina also joined President Weah and his predecessor, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, to inaugurate a new terminal at Liberia's main airport, Roberts International Airport, as part of the party's celebrations. Liberia's independence.
— African development bank
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