emanuelShaw

Creating the Right Climate for Liberian Business
The Emanuel Shaw Interview

In this exclusive interview with Business Liberia’s Editor, Mr. Emanuel Shaw a Liberian business tycoon, an influential politician, and dedicated patriot shares his story, his opinion, and his hopes for the future.

Business Liberia

V1: Issue 2 Oct - Dec 2009 on stands today.

Get your copy now! (available in the US)

A look at what's in this issue:

Creating the Right Climate for Liberian Business
The Emanuel Shaw Interview
Don't Fight the Poor:
Why the informal sector is the best way out of poverty for the lower class.
Soaring to New Horizons:
New management, new equipment, and new hope for Liberia's International Airport.
Weathering the Storm:
A look at major challenges facing Liberia's prominent port industry.

Strategic Sectors:

    • Housing
    • Imports and Trade
    • Banking
  • Communication
  • Tourism
  • Petroleum

Interviews with:

  • ECO Bank Liberia's Managing Director, Morenike Adepoju
  • Lonestar's new CEO, Francois Joubert
  • Wulki Farm's CEO, Mai Bright Urey

The Debate Room:

  • Liberianization: A debate over the 26 Businesses set aside for Liberians

This Quarter

Read our Quarterly Report on Business in Liberia
By Menipakei Dumoe of Dumoe and Associates

The optimism expressed in our first issue is proving to be backed by economics as countries have started announcing their escape from recession. However, this quarter’s (July-September 2009) list of good news and economic bounce backs are not enough to conclude that the bad times are over. The developed economies should understand that the tax payer financed recovery must be complemented with real economic performance. Regulators of banks must improve their systems, not just to guide against the horrors of the past, but also identify future problems and adjust systems accordingly. The mistake of building regulatory systems to prevent past problems is backward thinking and should not be repeated. The factors that led to this recession and financial crisis will not be the same factors responsible for the next
Continue reading This Quarter

Editor

Editor's Blog

Editor's Blog | November 09
By Seanan Denizot

Buy Liberian
In today's speedy race across the invisible highways of the world wide web the world becomes a smaller and smaller place. Our globe of 195 countries is slowly turning into one over populated village. Globalization has spread to every nook and cranny, including the under developed like Liberia. The pros and cons for every business in every economy are constantly weighed. Save money by outsourcing and thus provide lower prices to the consumer or stay local and possibly generate employment? Questions like these are continuously debated by both the private and public sector of every country.

Liberia is no different and the answer to these catch 22s may be even trickery in this unique country...
Continue reading Editor's Blog

Economic Indicators - *Click a tab below to view the indicators

Domestic Production
CategorySubcategoryIndicatorMeasurementDate1Date1 $Date1 %Date2Date2 $Date2 %Date3Date3 %
Domestic productionAgricultureRubberMt200884,774-29.801/2009 - 04/200919,232-42-
Domestic productionAgricultureCocoaMt20082,463-20.601/2009 - 04/2009---
Domestic productionMiningGoldOunces200819,906+102.801/2009 - 04/20096,542-9.6-
Domestic productionMiningDiamondsCarats2008116.4+116.401/2009 - 04/20092,529-85.5-
Domestic productionManufacturingCementMt200894,037-28.601/2009 - 04/200932,097-12.2-
Domestic productionManufacturingBeveragesLitres200817,728,567-13.801/2009 - 04/20097,101,08634.2-
External trade and remittances
CategorySubcategoryIndicatorMeasurementDate1Date1 $Date1 %Date2Date2 $Date2 %Date3Date3 %
External trade and remittancesGoods exportTotalUS$ Millions2008242.4+21.101/2009 - 06/200983.4-37
External trade and remittancesGoods exportRubberUS$ Millions2008206.8+12.501/2009 - 06/200946.2-59.5
External trade and remittancesGoods importsTotalUS$ Millions2008813.5+63.001/2009 - 06/2009347.5-4.8-
External trade and remittancesGoods importsRiceUS$ Millions2008114.3+66.801/2009 - 06/200961.5+67.0-
External trade and remittancesGoods importsPetroleum ProductsUS$ Millions2008147.1+41.901/2009 - 06/200936.9-43.7-
External trade and remittancesGoods Trade BalanceNet TradeUS$ Millions2008-571.1-272.101/2009 - 06/2009-264.1-31.3-
External trade and remittancesPersonal RemittancesInflowUS$ Millions2008228.4-01/200949.7-35.9-
External trade and remittancesPersonal RemittancesOutflowUS$ Millions2008144.9-01/200933.4+28.5-
Government finances
CategorySubcategoryIndicatorMeasurementDate1Date1 $Date1 %Date2Date2 $Date2 %Date3Date3 %
Government financesRevenueTax RevenuesUS$ Millions2007-2008169.2+21.901/2008 - 03/2009141.6+14.5-
Government financesRevenueNon-tax RevenuesUS$ Millions2007-200837.7+371.801/2008 - 03/200913.6-43.3-
Government financesRevenueGrantsUS$ Millions2007-20085.7+279.301/2008 - 03/200912.1+203.4-
Government financesRevenueTotalUS$ Millions2007-2008206.9+39.501/2008 - 03/2009167.4+13.3-
Government financesExpenditure (cash basisCurrent ExpenditureUS$ Millions2007-2008181.8+69.201/2008 - 03/2009147.6+16.5-
Government financesExpenditure (cash basisDebt ServiceUS$ Millions2007-20086.6+42.201/2008 - 03/20095.0+17.2-
Government financesExpenditure (cash basisCapital ExpenditureUS$ Millions2007-200821.3+19.001/2008 - 03/200919.5+30.0-
Government financesExpenditure (cash basisTotalUS$ Millions2007-2008203.1+62.001/2008 - 03/2009167.1+17.9-
Inflation Indicators
CategorySubcategoryIndicatorMeasurementDate1Date1 $Date1 %Date2Date2 $Date2 %Date3Date3 %
Inflation IndicatorsGeneralOverallUS$ Millions4/1/2009+17.5+7.805/2009+17.506/2009+7.6
Inflation IndicatorsGeneralDomestic FoodUS$ Millions5/1/2009+26.4-0.805/2009+26.406/2009-9.3
Inflation IndicatorsGeneralImported FoodUS$ Millions5/1/2009+24.1+16.405/2009+24.106/2009+11.2
Inflation IndicatorsGeneralImported FuelUS$ Millions5/1/2009+34.5-32.805/2009+34.506/2009-36.6
Inflation IndicatorsGeneralOverall Ex-Imported Food and FuelUS$ Millions5/1/2009+15.0+6.205/2009+15.006/2009+7.7
Money and Banking
CategorySubcategoryIndicatorMeasurementDate1Date1 $Date1 %Date2Date2 $Date2 %Date3Date3 %
Money and BankingFood ExchangeExchange Rate - Period AverageL$/US$08/2007-08/200863.5063.508/200972.77-12.7-
Money and BankingMoneyFX ReservesUS$ Millions06/2007-06/200829.842.506/200958.2+37.1-
Money and BankingMoneyCash in Circulation (L$)L$ Millions06/2007-06/20082,8303,33706/20093,801+13.9-
Money and BankingMoneyDeposites (L$)L$ Millions06/2007-06/200871997306/20091,182+21.5-
Money and BankingMoneyDeposites (USD$ converted)L$ Millions06/2007-06/20086,80210,05906/200915,414+53.2-
Money and BankingMoneyBroad Money (L$ and USD$)L$ Millions06/2007-06/20089,99813,93806/200919,846+42.4-
Money and BankingMoneyUSD$ share of deposites%06/2007-06/200890.491.206/200992.9+1.7-
Money and BankingAverage Interest RatesLending Rate%06/2007-06/200815.114.406/200914.2-0.2-
Money and BankingAverage Interest RatesDeposite Rate (Time)%06/2007-06/20083.814.404/200914.2-0.2-
Money and BankingAverage Interest RatesDeposite Rate (Savings)%06/2007-06/20082.14.204/20094.30.1-
Money and BankingComercial Bank Lending USD$ and L$)AgricultureL$ Millions04/2007-04/20083132.104/20092-0.1-
Money and BankingComercial Bank Lending USD$ and L$)MiningL$ Millions04/2007-04/20080004/200913--
Money and BankingComercial Bank Lending USD$ and L$)ManufacturingL$ Millions04/2007-04/20085015804/200921737.4-
Money and BankingComercial Bank Lending USD$ and L$)ConstructionL$ Millions04/2007-04/200833559204/200971420.7-
Money and BankingComercial Bank Lending USD$ and L$)Transportation and CommunicationL$ Millions04/2007-04/200814164004/200978823.1-
Money and BankingComercial Bank Lending USD$ and L$)Trade, Hotels and RestaurantsL$ Millions04/2007-04/20085431,52704/20092,23446.3-
Money and BankingComercial Bank Lending USD$ and L$)OthersL$ Millions04/2007-04/20083,0101,94204/20092,66737.3-
Money and BankingComercial Bank Lending USD$ and L$)TotalL$ Millions04/2007-04/20084,1135,06504/20096,95137.2-