The 2016 Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises Conference was held by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry to promote and empower Liberia’s small businesses, with a particular focus on female-owned enterprises. Check out the photos below to see how the conference went.
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Sylvain Roy, the President and Chief Executive Officer of CNFA, examines products from Bosh Bosh. CNFA is implementing the USAID’s Liberia Agribusiness Development Activity (LADA) program. Photo: Zeze Ballah
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Sylvian Roy (left) and Watchen Harris Bruce (right) of LADA, stand next to a conference attendee. Photo: Zeze Ballah
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Vice President Joseph Boakai shakes the hand of keynote speaker Eyvonne Bright-Harding of Shark’s. During his address, he encouraged women to see entrepreneurship as a way forward. Photo: Zeze Ballah
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US Ambassador to Liberia Christine Elder promised the full support of the US government for women entrepreneurs in Liberia. Photo: Zeze Ballah
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Eyvonne Bright-Harding, the keynote speaker for the program owns Shark’s Entertainment, Inc.. Liberia’s largest ice cream manufacturer, she supplies Mamba Point Hotel, Wulki Farms, and most supermarkets in Liberia. Photo: Zeze Ballah
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Vice President Joseph Boakai encouraged Liberians to consume local products, adding, “If you go to my house, it’s mostly rubberwood… be proud in using whatever is made here.” Photo: Zeze Ballah
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Sylvain Roy, CEO of CNFA and Daniel Gies, Chief of Party of USAID/LADA. LADA is a USAID-funded project to attract US$9 million in new private sector investment. Photo: Zeze Ballah
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Produce from farmers associated with LADA is displayed at the trade fair. LADA launched the Agribusiness Investment Network to connect agribusiness dealers to resources.
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Gender Minister Julia Duncan Cassell, Sheryl Cowan of CNFA, and Amanda Hill of USAID/LADA. Cassell called for a women-only bank and said, “The records are there… women are better at managing money than men.” Photo: Zeze Ballah
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Sheryl Cowan of CNFA said LADA had established a special US$3 million co-investment fund to help smallholder farmers access financing. Photo: Zeze Ballah
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At the trade fair, products from newly started cosmetic company Naz Naturals are displayed. Photo: Lloyd Massah
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Locally made rubberwood furniture were on display. Conference attendees rated the various furniture; the winner would receive a grand prize of US$10,000. Photo: Lloyd Massah
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Watchen Harris Bruce of CNFA/LADA, Susan Edwards of Fund Manager Pan African Capital Group, and Fatumata Soukouna Coker of CWCE were the three women on the panel for a session that explored the various types of investment small business owners could access. Photo: Lloyd Massah
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J-Palm Liberia gives free samples of its Kernel Fresh palm kernel oil product to conference attendees who would provide their contact information. Photo: Lloyd Massah
Our coverage is sponsored by CNFA’s LADA/Feed the Future