VZCZCXRO6607
RR RUEHMA RUEHPA
DE RUEHMV #1032/01 3501548
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 151548Z DEC 08
FM AMEMBASSY MONROVIA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0618
RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MONROVIA 001032 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
COMMERCE FOR CLDP STEVE GARDNER 
 
E.O. 12598: N/A 
TAGS: ETRD EAID EINV EAGR ECON PINR LI
SUBJECT: LIBERIA: Minister of Commerce embraces reform 
 
¶1. (U) Summary:  Liberia's new Minister of Commerce and Industry 
(MOCI) is embracing reform on all fronts.  The Ministry's lawyer is 
coordinating top-to-bottom review of all commercial legislation and 
moving ahead with plans to institute alternative dispute resolution 
for commercial cases.  The GOL is looking towards WTO accession, is 
working to establish a standards agency, plans to strengthen the 
intellectual property protection function and is launching a website 
in January (http://moci.gov.lr/).  They are interested in USG 
support for any of the initiatives.  The Ambassador assured the 
Minister we will try to be helpful.  End Summary. 
 
¶2. (SBU) During a December 4 introductory call by the Ambassador, 
Minister Miata Beysolow, accompanied by her key staff and Deputy 
Minister Frederick Norkeh, outlined ambitious plans to make the 
Ministry of Commerce a vibrant part of Liberia's economic 
revitalization.  MOCI is expanding dialogue with the private sector 
and the Minister wants to empower Liberians to get more involved in 
commerce and help small businesses formalize by providing training, 
financing. 
 
Commercial Law Reform 
--------------------- 
 
¶3. (U) MOCI is reviewing all aspects of commercial law, in 
coordination with the Liberia Better Business Forum (LBBF).  They 
will revise consumer protection legislation, in coordination with 
Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Agriculture.  They provided 
the Ambassador with a written request for USG funding for the 
Commercial Law Reform proposal (see below). 
 
Alternative Dispute Resolution 
------------------------------ 
 
¶4. (U) MOCI is also working quickly to establish an alternative 
dispute resolution (ADR) entity at the Ministry for commercial 
cases.  The inability of the Liberian judicial system to deliver 
justice expeditiously, if at all, is one of the top obstacles to the 
business climate.  An effective ADR system will require a legal 
foundation and training.  They have approval from the Ministry of 
Justice, and are working with the courts to ensure decisions receive 
legal recognition. 
 
Establishing a Standards Organization 
-------------------------------------- 
 
¶5. (U) The standards lab is almost 75% complete, and UNIDO is 
providing standards training for lab workers (and has already sent 
five people to Nigeria for standards training).  Once the lab is 
completed, the GOL will spin-off the MOCI standards section and the 
corresponding sections from Agriculture, Health and Public Works, 
into a National Standards body.  There are also plans to move BIVAC 
(the pre-shipment inspection company, which is charged with ensuring 
the quality of imported goods) back to the Ministry of Commerce, 
from the Ministry of Finance. 
 
How to Improve Management? 
-------------------------- 
 
¶6. (SBU) Minister Beysolow has been told MOCI has 301 employees, but 
she feels that is unrealistically high and they will be cutting back 
and assessing capabilities.  Approximately 50 staff members are 
located in the counties, but have almost no logistical support. 
There is one MOCI vehicle in the entire country, even though there 
are inspectorates nationwide and 48 (untrained) inspectors in 
Monrovia alone.  Most county offices do not even have office space. 
They need to eventually computerize the entire ministry, and provide 
services like business registration on line.  As one example, the 
office of price analysis does not have a computer, so depends on 
what traders report to determine world prices.  As part of the 
reform, MOCI is moving ahead with a web site, which should be 
operational in January. 
 
WTO Accession 
------------- 
 
¶7. (U) Liberia is many years from WTO accession, but has set that as 
a target.  The Diagnostic Trade Integration Study has been 
completed, and the WTO focal point is working to educate other 
ministries on WTO requirements.  MOCI is working on WTO papers on 
Industrial Policy and Trade Policy, along with many other steps to 
get the process moving, and welcomes any assistance.  (Note:  They 
are appreciative of the USDA-funded training for three officials in 
Senegal in September.  End note.)  The Ambassador noted the 
importance of regularly briefing legislators on WTO requirements, 
saying she hears repeatedly that they feel left out and appreciate 
being kept informed of the government's plans.  The Minister agreed 
she had planned to meet with them and would make it a priority. 
 
Can you help? 
 
MONROVIA 00001032  002 OF 002 
 
 
------------- 
 
¶8. (SBU) Minister Beysolow, noting their ambitious agenda, asked 
about possibilities for USG assistance.  The Ambassador encouraged 
her to keep us informed of plans and projects.  Before leaving, MOCI 
provided papers outlining the plans for the commercial law reform 
project (with a proposed $2.56 million budget) and asked for further 
support with WTO accession.  We noted USDA had expressed willingness 
to assist Liberia with the sanitary and phyto-sanitary, the 
technical barriers to trade, and the agricultural sections of the 
WTO. 
 
¶9. (SBU) Bio info:  Beysolow was in the United States before 
returning to Liberia earlier this year.  In the United States, she 
worked at H&R Block, in a company that helped with small business 
development, and as a substitute teacher.  She lived in Manassas, 
Fairfax and Haymarket Virginia. 
 
¶10. (SBU) Before leaving Liberia in 1983, Beysolow worked with Ellen 
Johnson Sirleaf at the Ministry of Finance.  The President's mother 
was Beysolow's first teacher (and her sister's Godmother).  When 
Beysolow left Liberia in 1983, she settled in Abidjan, where she was 
able to receive Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and others fleeing the 
violence in Liberia. 
 
¶11. (SBU) She and Johnson Sirleaf started a company together.  She 
was recruited for this position over a long period, and dreaded 
returning to Liberia.  However, Beysolow said she is delighted to be 
back and has no regrets because "There is so much that needs to be 
done."  Her family is still in the United States.  The MOCI staffers 
were clearly energized and enthusiastic to be working under the new 
regime. 
 
THOMAS-GREENFIELD