Philadelphia, PA, USA –July 9, 2025: President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr., will officially launch the Liberia Trade and Investment Office in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA, marking a bold new chapter in Liberia’s efforts to strengthen trade, attract investment, and engage the Liberian diaspora in national development.

The launch, which will be held today and on the margins of President Boakai’s official working visit to the United States at the invitation of U.S. President Donald J. Trump, reflects the Liberian leader’s unwavering commitment to unlocking economic opportunity and positioning Liberia as a credible and competitive destination for global commerce.

In a demonstration of the importance attached to the initiative, President Boakai designated Ambassador Charles Snetter, Ambassador At-Large, and to represent him at the official opening and deliver remarks on his behalf at the Liberia-U.S. Business and Trade Conference in Philadelphia. Ambassador Snetter will convey the President’s strong message of partnership, progress, and shared prosperity.

Located at 325-41 Chestnut Street in the heart of Philadelphia’s historic commercial district, the Liberia Trade and Investment Office will serve as a central resource for American businesses, diaspora entrepreneurs, and investors seeking market entry support, regulatory guidance, and partnerships across key sectors—including agribusiness, energy, digital services, light manufacturing, and sustainable tourism.

President Boakai emphasized the importance of leveraging this initiative to deepen U.S.-Liberia economic ties, while mobilizing Liberians in the diaspora to contribute their talents, capital, and innovation toward Liberia’s transformation.

Key sessions at the two-day conference will highlight investment-ready projects, value-added export opportunities under “Made in Liberia,” and financing instruments from the U.S. EXIM Bank, DFC, and other multilateral partners. A special session titled Mobilizing Liberians Abroad will explore scalable public-private models for road, port, energy, agriculture, and broadband expansion.

The conference will conclude with the signing of a landmark Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of Liberia, the Laborers’ International Union of North America (LIUNA), and the Laborers’ District Council of Philadelphia, aimed at fostering workforce development and technical exchange. Ambassador Snetter and the Liberian delegation will also visit the Philadelphia Regional Port Authority to explore logistics collaboration and export growth.

President Boakai will be represented by a high-level delegation including Ambassador Charles Snetter and Liberia’s Trade and Investment Representative to the United States, Ambassador Dudley Gibson-Schwarz, along with senior officials from the Ministry of Commerce, the National Investment Commission, and the Ministry of Finance.