The Maiden Edition of the Liberia-Japan Dialogue kicks off this Thursday, July 3, 2014 in the C. Cecil Dennis Auditorium at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Monrovia, with  focus on trade, commerce and investment.

A Foreign Ministry release says Foreign Minister Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan and Japanese Ambassadorto Liberia Naoto Nikai will perform opening remarks at a ceremony that is expected to be attended by high profile Liberian Government and Japanese officials as well as private sector actors from both countries.

The Liberia-Japan Dialogue will be held under the theme, “Harnessing Bilateral Partnership for Robust Private Sector Development in Liberia”, and will focus on enhancing trade, commerce and investment opportunities between Liberia and Japan.

During the day-long event, the Liberian side will make presentations on Progress Report of Poverty Reduction (PRS I), the Agenda for Transformation and Vision 2030 while at the same time lecturing its Japanese counterparts on opportunities and challenges in the business and investment environments including Business Opportunities in Natural Resources in Liberia, Regulation of Exploration Right and Mining Concession, Investment Climate in Liberia, Business Financing and Capital Mobilization, among others.

The Japanese side is expected to provide discussions on areas of Investment, Japanese Government’s overall policy on Official Development Aid to Liberia and Business Regulatory Framework and Opportunities in Japan.

The Dialogue will be climaxed with the signing of a Joint Communiqué.

Meanwhile, the Japanese will on Friday, July 4, 2014, pay a one-day working visit to the Port City of Buchanan, where the Buchanan offices of the National Port Authority (NPA), and the Liberia Petroleum Refinery Corporation (LPRC) will make presentations on the Buchanan Port’s commercial pier and LPRC facilities respectively.