Queen Elizabeth welcomes Amb. Gibson-Schwarz (right) to Buckingham Palace

Liberia’s Ambassador to the United Kingdom (UK) Gurly Gibson-Schwarz says she will focus on having the UK expand its investment profile in Liberia.

Speaking recently at ceremonies held at the Liberian embassy in London, marking her presentation of credentials to Queen Elizabeth, Ambassador Gibson-Schwarz noted that accelerating investment alongside the UK international development commitment to Liberia will generate shared prosperity and mutual benefits to the two countries.

She added that she presented to the British monarch the aspirations of Liberia as both countries strive to explore new ways to project the long-standing ties they enjoy.

The ambassador asserted that the warm-hearted exchange with the queen signifies the importance of enriching UK-Liberia relations.

She told the gathering of government representatives and other dignitaries that Liberia’s Pro Poor Agenda for Development is the vehicle by which the Liberian government seeks to tackle poverty while advancing national development and prosperity.

The Liberian diplomat noted that increased trade will broaden the foothold of UK firms in Liberia as well as meet the strategic target of job creation for the West African nation’s mostly youthful population.

She emphasized the need for a dominant private sector as the tool that will propel Liberia’s growth and national development. 

Ambassador Gibson-Schwarz was upbeat about the productive nature of her result-focused interactions at the bilateral and multi-lateral levels.

Speaking on behalf of his government, the Vice Marshall at the UK’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office Neil Holland identified key areas of common interests between Liberia and the UK, noting the usefulness of breaking new grounds.

“Today, your Excellency, you heard from the highest and most respected authority in our country on our most sincere wishes to foster the strong, prosperous and mutually beneficial relationship between our two countries,” he noted.

He recalled that in 2017, then UK Foreign Secretary and now Prime Minister Boris Johnson visited Liberia in furtherance of deeper relations between Liberia and the UK.

Vice Marshall Holland reflected on February’s introductory discussion, when he welcomed the Liberian ambassador at her new post, in which he noted her clear and ambitious vision for engagement with the UK.

Liberia and the United Kingdom, Mr. Holland said, continue to strengthen their partnership for the benefit of their respective populations.

Those collaborations extend across varying areas of interests, from military training and support in the United Nations context to climate change, protection of wildlife and endangered species, he added.

He stressed trade and investment as a key area to both countries as well as strengthening democratic institutions, especially Britain’s global agenda.

Vice Marshall Holland recounted the visit in 2018 of a legislative delegation from Liberia and informed the audience that a British parliamentary delegation is due to visit Liberia next year as a follow up to the Westminster meetings.

Another key area of the UK’s continued support to Liberia is education. The UK Chevening Scholarship has already produced 18 Liberian graduates with master’s degrees from key British universities.

According to Mr. Holland, a new record has been set with half of this year’s scholars from Liberia being women.

Albert Jaja