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Republic of Liberia National Investment Commission. Investing in Liberia Berlin, Germany George G. Wisner Executive Director. Table of Contents. Investment Climate a. Economic Performance b. Economic Stabilization & Recovery Plan c. Tax Regime & Investment Incentives
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Republic of Liberia National Investment Commission Investing in Liberia Berlin, Germany George G. WisnerExecutive Director
Table of Contents • Investment Climate • a. Economic Performance • b. Economic Stabilization & Recovery Plan • c. Tax Regime & Investment Incentives • d. Easy to Start Business in Liberia • 2. Opportunities in Agriculture & Agri- Business • a. Rubber b. Cocoa c. Fisheries (Aqua and marine) d. Oil Palm • e. Horticulture f. Cassava g. Rice h. Value Chain Financing Agriculture • 3. Energy & Oil and Gas • a. Progress & Current Emphasis • b. Oil & Gas Upstream Opportunities • c. Available Data • 4. Infrastructure • a. Road b. Transport c. Ports d. ICT • 5. Tourism • 6. Medical Infrastructure • 7. Opportunities in Mining • a. Iron Ore b. Gold c. Various Other Minerals in Liberia
Economic Stabilization & Recovery Plan Strategy 2: Strengthening Resilience and Reducing Vulnerability Strategy 3: Strengthening Public Finances and Ensuring Service Delivery Strategy 1: Recovering Output & Growth Revitalize and diversify growth, targeting agribusiness export sectors Enable delivery of critical transport and energy infrastructure projects - Major Health Investment Plan - Education sector priorities - WASH services - Social protection - GoL plan for UNMIL transition Support for public finances, improved finance execution and governance including de-concentration $225 M $298 M $289 M $812 M Total financing Gap
Tax Regime & Investment Incentives • Liberia’s Profit Tax Rate is 25% or 2% on turnover. • No capital controls (100% of profit repatriation) • 30% incentive deduction allowed on up to 100% of qualifying cost of equipment & machinery for investors over $1m • Can also obtain a tax deduction of 10% off cost of building & fixtures used in manufacturing process that produced finished products having 60% local raw material. • Investments in economically deprived zones or those generating more than 100 direct jobs qualify for additional incentives of up to 12.5% & further 10% respectively Tourism, Manufacturing, Energy, Hospitals & clinics; Housing, Transportation; IT, Banking, Agriculture, Fisheries, Agro-Processing, and banking Investments exceeding $10m qualifies for concession to be negotiated
Easy to Start a Business in Liberia • Liberia Business Registry (LBR) • One-Stop-Shop for enterprise development that formalizes enterprises in only 48 hours • Online application process and online database • Registration can be done through: • E-registration: after receiving account details applicant submits dossier online. • Assisted registration: applicants submit a paper-based dossier to the LBR staff who undertakes the registration procedures. • Staff are on hand to provide advice to applicants. Table 1: Ease of Starting a Business Indicator Table 2: Fees
Opportunities in Agriculture & Agri-Business • Rubber Processing & Rubberwood • Cocoa • Aquaculture & Marine Fish • Oil Palm • Horticulture • Rice • Cassava • Agriculture Value Chain Financing
Priority Sector: Rubber Processing • Long standing history in rubber production • Liberia searching for industrial investors in rubber compounding & production of dry rubber products such as door mats, boots, handles, chairs, pipes, bushels & gloves • Many medium size farmers investing in ribbed smoked sheets & rubber crepe • 63,000t produced in 2013, potential expansion to 325,000t • Over 200,000 ha of arable land available: 55% of rubber from small farmers • Large unexploited ECOWAS market for ribbed smoked sheets, crepe & rubber products • Large unexploited investment opportunity in rubberwood & its products
Priority Sector: Cocoa • Cocoa sector in Cote D’Ivoire, Ghana & Nigeria is saturated: Liberia is next frontier for cocoa • 90% of cocoa bought by informal traders i.e. potential for investors to improve yields & quality • Investor-friendly regulatory framework for cocoa being developed • Cocoa yield = 200 kg/ha; potential to increase to 1,000kg/ha • Global demand increasing by 6% per year & is worth $4bn. • Market for cocoa butter & powder in Liberia is growing by 4% & 2% p.a..
Priority Sector: Aquaculture & Marine Fish AQUACULTURE • Liberia looking for first industrial investor in aquaculture, to exploit untapped market • Most renewable internal water resources per capita in Africa • Optimal natural water temperature for aquaculture (27o Celsius) • Can produce 330,000 mt of inland fish (current production only 2,500 mt) • Domestic market unsaturated, particularly up-country plus large regional market • Large, untapped business opportunity – particularly as there is currently no competition. MARINE FISH • With Mt Coffee Dam completed, cheaper to process fish in Liberia vs Nigeria, Senegal, CI. • Liberia’s coastline & continental shelf offers 20,000 sq. km of fishing ground • Only 7,300 mt of marine fish produced locally, while consumption lies at 23,800 mt p.a. • Fish landing, storage & processing facilities being built in Robertsport & Monrovia • Gov’t streamlining tax regime & regulations in sector
Priority Sector: Oil Palm • Indigenous home of oil palm; produced 176,000 mt 2013 – little of which processed • Un-tapped ECOWAS market in oil palm products • Perfect place to invest in the processing of crude palm oil into refined oil for cooking, soaps, cosmetics, food processing, mulch, fertilizer, animal feed & bio-fuel • 4 large investors including world leaders Sime Darby & Golden Veroleum • Govt & SIDA developing model for outgrower schemes for large concessions • Hundreds of small & medium scale farms around country, mostly in rubber belt • USAID running support programme of oil palm by developing market for high variety seedlings among other types of support Potential 40% profit Oil Palm Profitability, $ per tonne
Horticulture • Ideal for investment in inputs, production, aggregation, packaging & processing. • Rainfall of 2,391 mm p.a., compared to 1,348 mm in Ghana or 730 mm in Kenya. • Large, growing domestic market, access to ECOWAS & sea access to EU & US markets. • In 2013 Liberia produced 291,000 mt worth of fruit & vegetables. Imported 14,300 mt • Domestic market alone is worth $103 million p.a. • Highest potential: tomatoes, pineapples, mangoes, plantain, banana, sweet potatoes and chilli pepper (high Scoville Index) • Liberia has direct flight access to Brussels, Casablanca, Abidjan & Nairobi
Cassava • Cassava is an important staple crop in Liberia, can be planted all year • Average Liberian can consume 5 times more, making Liberia growth economy for cassava • Scope for market capture through quality & innovation. • Use of quality inputs & agro-chemicals limited = large market for input providers. • Potential for cassava value addition such as gari, cassava flour, high quality cassava starches, animal feed, syrup, ethanol, citric acid, sucrose & adhesives • Over 80 m tonnes of cassava is consumed every year in ECOWAS. Market growing by 4% p.a. Of this Liberia accounted for 520,000 tonnes. Cassava & Cassava Starch Market Growth $0.1 bn market $0.9 bn market $1.6 bn market $0.1 bn market
Rice • Liberia consumes 570,000 tons of rice per year • Of this 55% imported giving scope for investors in efficient, high yield farming (Nerica variety) & irrigation to capture market share • Growth of rice consumption in Liberia: 14.1% p.a. since 2003. • Can double yields & triple land harvested: now 230,000 ha but can increase to 600,000 ha • Investment opportunities in: • Nerica variety farming planted in irrigated or non-irrigated swamplands • Farm inputs and technology, hulling & milling • Processing into high value rice, cereal bars, rice crackers & rice starch. Rice bran sold as fish feed or processed by pharmaceutical industry. Rice Profitability, $ per metric tonne
Agriculture Value Chain Financing • Potential for investors to provide financing for agriculture value chains • Liberia has only 1 small agricultural bank - Afriland • Gov’t & donors (USAID, IFAD, World Bank, SIDA, EU) applying value chain approach to these value chains: • Rubber processing, rubberwood, oil palm, cocoa, aquaculture, marine fish, horticulture, rice, cassava, livestock • Scope for different types of investors: • Agriculture finance institutions • Development finance institutions • Social entrepreneurs • Cooperative banks • Venture capitalists • Private Equity • Business & Technical Services Providers • NIC has registry of SME investment opportunities in agriculture: Contact PayeGbelayan
Investment in Energy Priorities • Concession energy demand is 700MW but current supply less than 20MW creating huge investment opportunity • Huge returns to possible: Liberia has highest energy tariffs in world (56 cents per kwh) • Hydropower to access huge potential of Liberia’s waterways: • internal renewable water resources are second in West Africa only to Guinea & Nigeria Mount Coffee hydro power generation - transmission & distribution of power lines due on stream in December 2016 (up to 70 MW) • Many Investment Opportunities available in: • Biofuels from oil palm and rubber wood – 500 MW Potential • Hydro plants – 1,000 MW Potential on St. Paul, St. John & Lofa rivers • Solar • HFO • Construction of National Power Grid • Clients: 4 million people who rely on generators plus numerous concessions in agriculture, mining, ports etc; plus Liberia being connected to West Africa Power Pool
Achievements in Restoring Energy Access Micro hydro plant constructed – to support 3000+ rural connections • - Basic services restored in Monrovia • 30,000 connections • 22 MW installed • Most electricity self-generated Cross-border purchase of electricity from Cote d’Ivoire, expected to support 20,000+ connections in areas along border
Current Energy Emphasis $1.2 bn worth of projects to be implemented in next 5 years, with funding secured. Generation (Renewable) $50 M available for development of renewable energy, especially small-scale hydro and solar (in preparation). Generation 3 X Heavy Fuel Oil (HFO) Plants under construction – 38 MW capacity (~$60 M) Mount Coffee Hydro Plant (80 MW) – Rehabilitation underway( ~$300M) T&D 7 distinct transmission line projects 4 distribution projects (~200,000 connections) CLSG Line: $500 M T&D projects in Liberia: ~$250M
Available Data • 2D seismic data (PSTM/PSDM):24,773 km • 2D gravity/magnetic data: 24,508km • 2D angle stacks: 24,774km • 3D seismic data (PSTM/PSDM):18,345km2 • 3D angle stacks: 18,345km2 • Updated Interpretation report (2010) • Well Data from nine recently drilled wells
Opportunities in Infrastructure • Roads • Transport Services • Sea Ports • ICT
Overview of Road Infrastructure • $1.4bn invested by Govt & partners in roads since 2007 • Partners in road development: • SIDA, EU, JICA, World Bank, AfD, USAID • National Road Infrastructure Strategic Goals: • Connect all (15) county capitals to Monrovia with paved roads • Prepare detail engineering designs as the basis to attract construction funding • Plans to establish road maintenance fund & establish Roads Authority • Total Paved Roads are now 734km in Liberia • Primary Laterite Roads 1,423 km • Secondary Laterite Roads 2,350 km • Feeder Roads 5,410 km
Road Infrastructure Priorities • Buchanan (Grand Bassa County) to Greenville (Sinoe County) – 320 kms • Gbarnga (Bong County) to Medikorma (Sierra Leone Border) – 281 kms • Part-Financing construction of primary highway from Ganta – Tappita (World Bank providing part financing already): 100 kms • Financing construction of primary highway from Tappita – Fish Town: 238 kms • Rehabilitation of Monrovia to Bo-Waterside border & Sanniquelle to Cote d’Ivoire (Danane) • ELWA (Monrovia) to Roberstfield International Airport road
Transport Services Priorities PPP Opportunities: • Provision Of Mass Transport Services • Public Parking Facilities • Construction of bus stations & bus services • Construction & management of road links (toll road system) as reform progresses for fair payments for road users. • Long term road maintenance initiatives • Agricultural transport services linking prime growing areas to Monrovia & ports • Coastal & Inland Water Transport: 6 major rivers, also in Monrovia
Sea Port Infrastructure Overview • Liberia has 4 ports: • Freeport of Monrovia is main port & handles over 91% of Liberia’s vessel traffic. • Port of Buchanan handles 60% of NPA’s Summer Dead Weight & 65% of Authority’s throughput. • Port of Greenville saw 470% vessel traffic increase from 2012 to 2013 by 47 vessels. • Port of Harper is smallest port, handling domestic trade only • National Port Authority is Govt enterprise established by 1967 Port Act. Responsible to plan & develop ports. Bomboja • NPA conducting feasibility study in Bomboja to gain approval for 5th port. • NPA became ISPS Compliant in Monrovia and Buchanan in 2010.
Sea Port Infrastructure Priorities Planned projects at Port of Buchanan: • Project B1: Iron Ore Quay Expansion • Project B2: Extension of Fuel Quay • Project B3: Commercial Berth Expansion from 326 to 400m • Project B4: Logistical Shore base (Phases 1 & 2): supply boats & waste management reception facility operations & warehousing, open yard Planned projects at Freeport of Monrovia: • Project M1: Marginal Wharf Extension by 200 meters, presently 600 meters • Project M2: One new berth and reclamation for container and general cargo 300 meters LOA. • Project M3: Coastal vessel terminal – to enhance the distribution and movement of cargoes along the coast of Liberia and sub region • Project M4: Dredging of entrance channel (widening) to 250 meters • Project M5: Fishing Harbour Pier – Local and international fishing activities, 150—200 meters LOA Top Priorities: Projects M1, M5 & B4
Sea Port Infrastructure Priorities Planned projects at Port of Harper: • Project H1: Marginal Wharf Expansion • Project H2: Oil Palm Quay Main clients: Maryland Oil Palm, Cavalla Rubber, logging Planned projects at Port of Greenville: • Project G1: Construction of Liquid Bulk Pier (200m to 250m long) pier for crude palm oil (Golden Veroleum Liberia - potential of 300,000 tons of crude palm oil per year) • Project G2: Construction of dry bulk (200 to 250m long) quay and breakwater (south) • Main Clients: GVL, Hummingbird & logging • 400m breakwater protects harbour. 2 quays at present (70m & 180m) on inner side of breakwater for berthing facilities, with existing depth of 8/9m below chart datum.
Sea Port Infrastructure Priorities Planned projects at Port of Harper: • Project H1: Marginal Wharf Expansion • Project H2: Oil Palm Quay Main clients: Maryland Oil Palm, Cavalla Rubber, logging Planned projects at Port of Greenville: • Project G1: Construction of Liquid Bulk Pier (200m to 250m long) pier for crude palm oil (Golden Veroleum Liberia - potential of 300,000 tons of crude palm oil per year) • Project G2: Construction of dry bulk (200 to 250m long) quay and breakwater (south) • Main Clients: GVL, Hummingbird & logging • 400m breakwater protects harbour. 2 quays at present (70m & 180m) on inner side of breakwater for berthing facilities, with existing depth of 8/9m below chart datum.
ICT Infrastructure Priorities • ICT in Liberia: • 60% of population inclined to use ICT services • Establishment of Liberia Internet Exchange Point • Undersea Fiber Optic Cable Landing accessible • Partial Roll-out of Monrovia Fiber Ring • Gov’t willing to further divest part of its 55% share in Cable Consortium Liberia • Major Investment Opportunities in Liberia’s ICT Sector: • National Backbone: $67m • Digital Migration Platform: $48m • National Postal Addressing System: $13.7m • Data Centres and Internet Services Providers
Tourism Investment Opportunities • Eco-Tourism based on natural rainforest (Sapo National Park, Gola Forest National Park), mountains (Mt. Nimba, Wologisi), inland waterways & waterfalls (Kpatawee, St. John’s River Waterfall etc). Looking for investors in facilities & tourist services. • Surf & Fishing Tourism in Robertsport/Lake Piso (972 km sq) in Grand Cape Mount • Rehabilitation of Hotel Africa and Old Ducor Palace
PPP Opportunity for John F. Kennedy Medical Center • Largest medical facility with a paramedical and nursing school and several units • PPP to Finance, Build, Design, Equip, Operate and Transfer. PPP opportunity for better service delivery (state of the art medical equipment & facilities)
Iron Ore WOLOGISI-1BT @36%Fe • 3 Age Provinces in Liberia • Liberian (Archeaen-Meta Volcanic) • Eburean Formations • Pan-African (youngest) • Iron formation occurs across all age provinces • Iron formation commonly associated with composite rock units; schist, mafic, felsic & ultramafic units • All major deposits occur within Liberian & Eburnean provinces except Goe-Fantro which occurs within Pan-African TAWANA 62Mt @64%fe ARCELOR MITTAL 471Mt@67%fe KITOMA 64MT @61%fe BAO CHICO CHINA UNION – 1.05 BT @36%fe WESTERN CLUSTER 563Mt @53%fe GOE-FANTRO 64MT @59%Fe PUTU -4.5 BT @39%Fe
Gold • Gold occurrences are widespread • Gold production is dominated by ASM activities • One mechanized gold mine: Aureus Mining: 1.5Moz @3.8g/t • MNG Gold: 750k ounces @1-3g/t • Hummingbird: • Tuzon 2.47 Moz @1.4 g/t • Dugbe 1.8 Moz @ 1.3g/t Aureus Mining MNG Gold Hummingbird
Various Other Minerals in Liberia 3 distinct kimberlite diamond clusters have been identified in Western Liberia: • Kumgbor cluster ~ 135Ma • Weasua cluster ~ 800Ma • Mano Godua cluster ~ 135Ma Copper, Lead , Barite, Bauxite, Kyanite, Phosphate, Platinum, Manganese, Uranium, Chromite, Corundum, Nickle etc
www.investliberia.gov.lr wisnergeorge5@gmail.com