Germany Gives Six Million Euros for Transport Sector

A six-million euro Joint Implementation Agreement for Technical Cooperation Projects has been concluded between the Governments of the Republic of Liberia and the Federal Republic of Germany for capacity building in the transport sector.

The agreement will be signed at a formal ceremony in Monrovia in November by the Finance Minister, Amara Konneh, Transport Minister, Eugene Lenn Nagbe and Public Works Minister, Samuel Kofi Woods for Liberia and German Ambassador Bode Schafff and GIZ Project Director Claudia Hermes for Germany.

Under the agreement the German Government through GIZ will provide equipment for Road Maintenance Training Center at Fendel, support the automation of the Department of Motor Vehicle at the Transport Ministry, train personnel at the Ministries of Transport and Public Works and support private sector involvement through the provision of subsidies to local entrepreneurs, twining and matchmaking between contractors and their Liberian counterparts.

Speaking in Frankfurt, Germany following separate meetings with the GIZ Managing Director Cornelia Richter and the Head of the West Africa Department at the German Ministry of Economic Cooperation Julia Kaiser, Transport Minister Eugene  Nagbe thanked the Government of Germany for being the biggest contributor to the Liberia Reconstruction Trust Fund.  Minister Nagbe said Germany has contributed over 34 million Euros to the Liberia Reconstruction Trust Fund which is funding the pavement of the Buchanan Highway, the Red Light –Gbarnga Highway. Germany has also committed to contributing to the Rehabilitation of the Mount Coffee Hydro among other projects.

Minister Nagbe said the people of Liberia were grateful to the German people for their support to Liberia, particularly in the area of infrastructure rehabilitation.

Responding, Ms. Kaiser said Germany is pleased with the transformation in governance which has occurred under the leadership of President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, adding that the German government remains committed to its development partnership with Liberia through bi-lateral commitments and the LRTF.  The two sides also discussed the possibility of further German support for the pavement of the Ganta – Fishtown corridor of the Monrovia - Harper highway.

Also speaking, Deputy Public Works Minister Victor Smith stressed the need for donors to speed up access to funding as Liberians were short on patience in seeing the implementation of infrastructure projects. For his part, Chamber of Commerce President Monie Captan urged German firms to partner with Liberian contractors and participating in the building of roads and other high capital projects in Liberia.