Liberia plans national fisheries investment conference to attract private capital
Conference will showcase investment opportunities across capture, aquaculture, processing, and export sectors
LIBERIA – Liberia is preparing to promote its fisheries sector as a destination for private investment through the National Fisheries Investment Conference 2026, known locally as Kpongama, according to the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority (NaFAA).
NaFAA Director General J. Cyrus Saygbe said during a February 10 interview on OK FM that the conference represents a shift from reliance on licenses and permits toward private-sector-led growth.
Saygbe explained that the authority has historically depended on industrial and artisanal fishing licenses, which he said is insufficient for long-term sustainability.
The two-day event, scheduled for March 30 to 31 at the Farmington Hotel, was relocated from the Ministerial Complex due to traffic disruptions caused by road construction along the Congo Town corridor.
Saygbe noted that Liberia’s coastline of roughly 579 kilometers and over 300 nautical miles of territorial waters holds significant marine resources, yet current annual harvests of 53,000 metric tons fall far below potential yields.
He reported that Liberia has an estimated 94,000 tons of surface-water fish and 254,500 tons of deep-water fish, leaving a large portion of available stock unexploited.
NaFAA intends to present opportunities across the full fisheries value chain, highlighting needs in capture, aquaculture, processing, cold storage, and export infrastructure.
The absence of a dedicated fishing port means that around 17,000 metric tons of the national catch are landed outside Liberia, resulting in lost export revenue and investment opportunities.
The conference is expected to attract regional fisheries ministers from Nigeria and Morocco, private investors from Africa and beyond, and local fish farmers and traders.
Saygbe said Liberia hopes to learn from regional successes in fisheries management and value addition to improve domestic practices.
Several investment deals are expected during the event, including a partnership with Orange Liberia to integrate mobile technology for licensing and payments by artisanal fishermen and to introduce solar-powered freezers to reduce post-harvest loss.
Other agreements under discussion include private-sector management of the Sea King semi-industrial fishing vessel and the Robertsport fisheries cluster, which could create thousands of jobs in western Liberia.
The conference agenda will feature panels on sustainable fisheries management, governance, aquaculture, innovation, and value addition, with participation from Liberian and international experts.
Development partners including the World Bank and European Union are supporting the event through ongoing fisheries and private-sector development programs.
Saygbe said Kpongama is a government-wide initiative with an interagency steering committee comprising the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Finance, Commerce, and State, the Liberia National Police, the Immigration Service, and the National Investment Commission.
He added that policy documents guiding the sector, such as a 10-year strategic plan, a public-private partnership strategy, an investment plan, and a national aquaculture strategy, will be launched during the conference.
NaFAA has also reserved spaces for artisanal fishermen and fishmongers to ensure their perspectives are included in discussions about sector growth and economic impact.
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