Johannesburg, South Africa -  President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has arrived in Johannesburg, South Africa to participate in the 25th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union being held under the theme: “Year of Women’s Empowerment and Development towards Africa’s Agenda 2063.”

According to a dispatch from Johannesburg, the Liberian leader and delegation, who arrived about 05:30 a. m. South African time, was received at the O.R. Tambo International Airport by high ranking officials of the Liberian Embassy, African Union and South African Government.

Later in the morning, President Sirleaf participated in three major events planned on the margins of 25th African Union Summit. The events included visits and discussions with the senior managements of Industrial Development Cooperation (IDC) and NETCARE and a meeting organized by the Johannesburg Chambers of Commerce to highlight Liberia’s investment opportunities for possible South African investors to venture into the Liberian business terrain.

At the meeting with the IDC, a development finance entrepreneurship institution that promotes industrialization to developing countries, President Sirleaf impressed upon the Cooperation to see Liberia as a potential venue for investment and industrialization activities particularly in the areas of agro processing, the wood industry, and other sectors that will enhance economic development and job creation for young people.

The head of the IDC, Mr. Godfrey Henne, thanked the Liberian leader for the visit and assured her that the group will make a fact-finding visit to Liberia soon to assess the investment climate and opportunities that exist to inform his decision making process.

He expressed key interest in the agro processing sector. “Once the potential for agriculture is high in Liberia as we have learned, the focus and emphasis must be put heavily on agro processing because it adds value to agricultural products,” Mr. Henne assured.

At NETCARE, President Sirleaf informed the group’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) that she was personally visiting to say thanks to the organization for standing with Liberia during the outbreak of the deadly Ebola virus disease.

NETCARE provided four ambulances to Liberia’s fight against Ebola at the time international assistance was slow and not forthcoming. “Thanks so much for the invitation extended me to visit NETCARE. Your help which came at a critical time contributed to Liberia going over 73 days now with no new case of the deadly Ebola virus disease and I really decided to honor your invitation just to say a big thanks for the help,” President Sirleaf stressed.

For his part, the CEO of NETCARE, Dr. Richard Friedland, said it was incredible for him to host President Sirleaf whom he described as extraordinary and capable. He pointed to her leadership and stewardship shown during the fight against Ebola as factors that make her a real hero for Liberia, Africa and the global community. “You are a legendary, a true leader and hero and we are proud of your achievements; not just against Ebola but for the recovery from conflict and under development to real growth and development,” Dr. Friedland emphasized.

The NETCARE CEO provided some history about the work of his organization particularly in South Africa and Lesotho were thousands of people have benefitted from healthcare services and training in the health portfolio. He said a public/private partnership initiative between his institution and governments greatly enhances healthcare mainly for poor rural people across the African continent.

At the event organized by the Johannesburg Chambers of Commerce where she delivered a statement, President Sirleaf pointed out that her visit to the institution came as a result of her presence in Johannesburg for the 25th AU Summit which runs from June 14-15, 2015. She recognized the role of other longstanding friends of Liberia and thanked the country’s Ambassador to South Africa, Lois Lewis Bruthus, for arranging the event.

President Sirleaf told the audience that Liberia is a well-endowed country with a lot of natural resources and reflected on the many difficult periods that country has gone through. “We lost some of our development goals due to the many different difficult periods the country has experienced, but we are trying once again to rebuild,” she said, adding that the global financial melt-down also had impacted the country when the Ebola virus surfaced; but vowed that Liberia will overcome the impact of all this very soon.

The Liberian leader recognized the unity that existed among Liberians during the Ebola crisis that saw leadership and participation from all sectors and the global threat that Ebola presented as key lessons learned that must be replicated in many domestic and international issues that the world may face in the future.

She briefed the audience about the country’s Vision 2030 program and the Agenda for Transformation which she indicated were the country’s road-map for obtaining national development and reaching middle income status by 2030.

President Sirleaf said that meeting the country’s development goals require addressing the structural problems that have been faced over the years and overcoming the infrastructural deficit currently being experienced by Liberia. “We need to find business proposals that lead to mutual benefits for the countries and peoples and we want to thank South Africa for supporting Liberia in the past and today,” she said.

She recognized what she called the huge trade imbalance that exists between Liberia and South Africa and called for a trade and investment mission from South Africa to visit Liberia soon.

Foreign Minister Augustine Ngafuan, Finance and Development Planning Minister Amara Konneh and the Executive Director of the National Investment Commission, George Wisner offered their perspectives on Liberia’s economic, business, investment and foreign policy credentials, prospects and challenges to the forum which brought together members of the Johannesburg Chambers of Commerce, an array of business men and women as well as local and international media institutions.

Their interventions centered on the impact of the Ebola virus on Liberia generally, the business environment, long-standing friendship with nations of the world including South Africa and a general plead for investors to see Liberia as a destination.