The Saudi Fund for Development Mission Pays a Courtesy Call on MPW: Expresses Interest in Roads and Energy Expansion

MONROVIA, LIBERIA: In his opening statement welcoming the delegation from the Saudi Fund for Development Financial & Technical Mission, Minister of Public Works, Roland Layfette Giddings, gave reassurances of the Government of Liberia’s commitment to rapid infrastructure growth during a high-level meeting at the Ministry.

 

Minister Giddings narrated a detailed account of circumstances surrounding the implementation of the Gbarnga to Medicoma project which is at eighty-five percent completion, while at the same time making a strong case for the financing of the remaining sixty-four kilometers to connect Voinjama City, Lofa County. “The Saudi Fund for Development has been a very good partner and has demonstrated immense interest in supporting Liberia's infrastructure development. While we remain grateful for how much this partnership has achieved thus far, we also believe that the SFD will see the rationale of adding the Government of Liberia to complete this task by strategically exploring additional financing possibilities, with a focus on connecting Voinjama City”.

 

The delegation, led by Mr. Abdulrahman Bin Ahujaa AlHabri, Director of West Africa Operations, acknowledged Minister Giddings’ kind words and disclosed that his team was in the country to assess the Gbarnga-Madicoma project and evaluate new financing requests for critical national priorities with a focus on eliminating the two major binding constraints, roads and energy.

 

Mr. AlHabri expressed the fund's willingness to work with the Government of Liberia and explore new financing channels mutually beneficial to both parties. However, he intimated that the Fund is concerned with the frequent delay during procurement processes, but cautioned GoL to take more proactive steps during future financing agreements.

 

Those making up the delegation were: