MPW Holds Bidders’ Conference On South Eastern Road
The Ministry of Public Works through its Infrastructure Implementation Unit (IIU) on Thursday, May 17, 2018 held a bidders’ conference with development partners.
The conference which was held at Cape Hotel was centered on the Development and Maintenance of South Eastern Corridor of Liberia (Ganta-Tippita) on Public Private Partnership (PPP) model.
In particular, the conference seeks to present to prospective developers, details of the South Eastern Corridor Road Asset Management Project (SECRAMP) being procured under a Public Private Partnership arrangement, to have interactive discussion with participants on PPP transaction structure and contractual provisions, prepare prospective developers for the tendering process and at the same time present emerging opportunities in road transport projects which are to be rolled out in the short term.
In his opening remarks, Public Works Minister Mobutu Nyenpan thanked the organizers of the conference, saying, the Public Private Partnership is in the best inters of his Ministry’s road connectivity plan.
He underscored the need for more innovative methods that will help bring relief to the people of Liberia as it relates to the road sector.
“That’s why the government is reaching out in whichever way possible to attract resources that will be used to address the sad state of affairs in the infrastructure sector of the country, especially the rural areas”, the Works Minister said.
According to Minister Nyenpan, significant percentage of the Liberian population live in rural areas, where road conditions are terrible, and that travelling from one location to another remains a major challenge.
Therefore, he said, as a government committed to the “pro poor” agenda which, among other things seeks to improve the living standard of rural dwellers, his administration remains supportive of any initiative intended to ease travelling difficulties for ordinary citizens.
He noted that, the government is encouraged that the Public Private Partnership will minimize the quest for more loans, which interest can sometime be high, adding, government remains committed to whatever model that can be used to improve roads in the country.
The former LPRC Executive however assured members of the Infrastructure Implementation Unit that, government will do all it can to honor its obligation and commitment to the PPP process, citing the setting up of the National Road Fund Office and subsequent recruitment of the Manager as a case study of government’s support.
“It is from this fund that we intend to fulfil our obligation that we are talking about”, he further assured.
Meanwhile, Minister Mobutu Nyenpan has thanked development partners who attended the program, saying, he hopes the workshop will adequately prepare them for the task ahead so as to be able to participate in the process.
