The Cabinet has unanimously endorsed the Liberia - US Trade and Investment Forum aimed at enhancing Liberia's position in the global economy. According to an Executive Mansion release, on Wednesday, September 9, 2015, the Cabinet gave its approval to a Liberia-driven Investment Trade Forum scheduled for September 16, 2015 in the United States of America. The Forum aims at buttressing government's Economic Stabilization & Recovery Plan by attracting industrial investors in agriculture, agro-processing and other sectors.

It will also woo investors' interest in rubber manufacturing, cocoa, fisheries, aquaculture, infrastructure, energy, gold, diamonds, rice and cassava. The Investment Forum comes on the heels of a 2014 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the National Investment Commission (NIC) and Developing Markets Associates (DMA).

It can be recalled Developing Markets Associates in 2010 and 2011 co-hosted two separate investment events for the NIC in the United Kingdom (UK). Direct tangible outcomes from the U.K. events included the establishment of Concession Agreements with Golden Veroleum-Liberia and Hummingbird Resources. Liberia will be represented by the National Investment Commission, Central Bank of Liberia, Ministries of Finance & Development Planning, Lands, Mines and Energy, Public Works, Agriculture, and Commerce and Industry. The African Governance Initiative will serve as Secretariat.

The Forum will bring together some 200 companies from around the world including 30 U.S-owned, the World Bank, UNDP and a host of international development partners. Vice President Joseph N. Boakai will represent President Sirleaf at the Investment Forum. On the question of Fiscal Year 2015/2016 Budget Execution Plan, Cabinet endorsed the plan, which largely reflected that the government's fiscal position is in good shape.

Meanwhile, the Cabinet also endorsed the provision of quarterly allotments to key priority projects with the proviso that Sector Ministries will account for funding in a timely manner. Cabinet also approved a brainstorming roundtable meeting that will bring together Ministries and Agencies along with the PPCC to thrash sticky issues that could hinder the execution of procurement plans and stall service delivery.

Cabinet also received updates on the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) Project signing. Finance Minister said amid the pending Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC) Law enactment, the signing was set for either October 7 or 8, 2015. MCC has agreed to apply the funding to cover the Government of Liberia's contribution towards financing the Mount Coffee Hydro project.