THE BUREAU OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Monrovia, Liberia.

NEWS SUMMARY FOR WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2015

President Johnson Sirleaf’s meeting with some of the lead entrepreneurs on Liberia’s development programs is the story  that dominants today's headlines on the newsstand.

DOMINANT STORY

Pres. Sirleaf Holds Key Meetings with Entrepreneurs on Liberia’s Development

The FOCUS newspaper reports that President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has held several meetings with entrepreneurs including the chairman and managing director of the Export-Import Bank of India (India Exim Bank), Yaduvendra and delegation, executives of Engineering Projects India (EPI), director of Silver Touch Technologies, Himansha Jain and delegation; GMR Family and executives of Western Cluster, among others.  According to a dispatch from New Delhi, India, the Liberian leader held these separate meetings on Wednesday, October 28, ahead of the third edition of the India – Africa Forum Summit which takes place on Thursday and Friday, October 29-30, 2015, respectively.  President Sirleaf arrived in New Delhi, India late Tuesday afternoon to join her African colleagues at the third edition of the India – Africa Forum Summit. The Summit will enable consultations at the highest political level between the heads of state and government of all 54 nations across Africa and the Indian government to give a new thrust to an age-old partnership. It will also provide an opportunity to not only reflect on the past, but to define the road ahead in tune with the present times. But during the meeting with executives of India’s Exim Bank, the Liberia President indicated that many programs including its Line of Credit Agreement have not been touched due to the Ebola crisis; but noted that she was excited to be back in India and hold discussions on how to move forward with the outstanding projects.  She told the entrepreneurs that she was glad to be back in India to meet with the country’s new Prime Minister Narendra Damodardas Modi, accelerate the commencement of outstanding projects, stimulate new interventions and strengthen Liberia- India relations. At the meeting with the India Exim Bank delegation, she discussed the implementation of the US$144 million Line of Credit Agreement for the energy sector. For their part, Engineering Project India Limited (EPI), a Government of India enterprise, briefed the Liberian President about their interest in the power, health and general infrastructure sector especially the desire to assist the John F. Kennedy Medical Center on a basis of public-private partnership.  The group indicated that its goal will be to help Liberia advance with its plans to build a resilient healthcare system and propose the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that will be non-binding on the Government of Liberia. The group is expected to pay a visit to Liberia in two weeks and work on a feasibility tour in 30 days.

 Related Captions: Ahead Of India-Africa Forum Summit: Ellen Holds Key Meetings with Entrepreneurs on Liberia’s Development(Heritage), Ellen Holds Key Meetings with Entrepreneurs on Liberia’s Development…Ahead Of India-Africa Forum Summit(The News), For Liberia’s Energy Sector: Indi Firm agrees To Implement US$144m Agreement(INSIGHT), India Engineers Keen On Power, Health Sectors(New Democrat)

Related Caption: NPA, APM Terminal Reach US$500,000 Deal(New Democrat)

Over US$300k For By-Election

The National Elections Commission (NEC) has announced that the amount of US$391,000 was needed for the conduct of a successful by-election in Vaihun District, Lofa County. The availability of the money on time was a key factor of success. Commissioner Jonathan Weedor, who’s overseeing the by–election, says the amount was expected to be generated by the government because donor partners do not really support by-elections. “If you notice the budget, it appears little much because of the road network. The road is very terrible; getting our logistics and staff there, we may possibly pass through Sierra Leone to get to Vaihun. So we need adequate funding to avoid hitches in the long run,” he said, noting that the NEC has already submitted the budget to the authorities of the Ministry Finance and Development Planning for the funds on time so as to have a smooth conduct of the process in Lofa. The NEC Commissioner added that despite the delay in making the funds available, he’s of the conviction that the election will be successful. According to the commission political campaign starts from November 20 to December 27 2015, while the nomination of candidates was already in progress. He pointed out that about 31,273 qualified electorates were expected to cast ballots for the candidates they support during also expected to be held December 29, 2015. The election in Lofa is a result of the death of a member of the House of Representatives - Fofi Sahr, Baimba, of District #2, writes the New Dawn newspaper.

Gender Ministry Supporting 4,000 Ebola Orphans-Minister Cassell Discloses

According to the FOCUS newspaper, the Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Julia Duncan-Cassell has disclosed that 4,000 orphans are currently being supported by Government through the Ministry. Minister Duncan Cassell pointed out that the Ministry provides basic social services and scholarships for the child whose parents fell victims to the Ebola Virus Disease. She made the disclosure Wednesday at the launch of the ‘Five by Twenty’ Post-Ebola Bottling Company held at the Monrovia City Hall.

Stakeholders Validate One Year Health Plan…As Health Minister Calls For Strong collaboration

The Ministry of Health in collaboration with stakeholders in the health sector has embarked on a two-day forum aimed at reviewing the health sector recovery plan and validating one year (2015/2016) operational plan. The forum, which is being held at the Paynesville City Hall, outside Monrovia, is also geared towards identifying implementation issues, and at the same time to agree on future steps. Speaking at the forum, Liberia’s Health Minister, Dr. Bernice T. Dahn, urged stakeholders in the health sector to join the Ministry of Health in doubling their efforts, Heritage newspaper reports.

MOH Unveil Nat’l Health Recovery, Investment Plans…As Partners Promise More Support

Health Minister, Dr. Bernice Dahn, says the country’s health sector is in a critical stage which requires proper planning and implementation for prompt recovery. The Health Minister who was speaking at a meeting of the Review of the Recovery Plan Implementation and Validation of the Ministry’s annual plan at the Paynesville City hall yesterday said the main concern is to review the Ministry’s work for the year and subsequently plan for the next year, the Inquirer newspaper reports.

Open Government Reformers Set to Start In Mexico City

A two-day Open Government Partnership (OGP) Global Summit opened Wednesday in Mexico City gathering over 3,000 high-level participants from civil society organizations, business, academia, tech and governments. The Liberian government delegation to the global summit is headed by Information Minister Lewis G. Brown. Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto officially opened the Summit in a ceremony held at the Palacio de Belas Artes, according to a dispatch. Top of the agenda will be the agreement on the Joint Declaration on Open Government for the Implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The Agenda was signed by at least 29 of OGP’s current 66 countries and dozens of civil society organizations committing to use their participation in OGP to implement the new Global Goals and to increase the transparency of the resources intended to fight poverty, Heritagenewspaperwrites.