In the warm hub of Congo Town, Monrovia, a quiet revolution is underway. It’s not just a conference agenda or a policy brief — it’s a gathering of dreamers, makers, and family-owned businesses small in size but mighty in ambition. From a market stall selling handwoven fabrics to a tech startup transforming local data into community-friendly solutions, the National MSMEs Conference & Trade Fair 2025 is turning aspirations into action and livelihoods into legacies.
“This is for every mother who stitches, every youth coding after school, and every artisan who believes Liberia can be built with local hands and local heart,” says Amina Kamara, a 32-year-old entrepreneur and single mother who runs a family-owned soap business that has grown from a shared kitchen to a small workshop in Paynesville. Amina’s story mirrors countless others who will be on hand December 8–10, sharing experiences, learning new skills, and forging partnerships that will help their businesses grow from resilience to resilience with dignity.
Key moments you can expect, through the lens of real Liberians: The President’s keynote: A moment of national unity and opportunity as Liberia’s President addresses how the Government, private sector, and development partners will work together to unlock markets, finance, and sustainable growth for MSMEs. For many attendees, this keynote is more than a speech; it’s a signal that their daily efforts are valued at the highest levels of leadership.
A family’s path from idea to impact: Meet the Gaye family, who turned a roadside stall selling palm-oil snacks into a small-scale processing unit that now employs five neighbors and provides steady income for several extended family members. They are among the 600 SMEs to participate, and their story embodies the conference’s theme: making Made-in-Liberia products accessible, trusted, and scalable.
Women, youth, and disability-friendly pathways: The conference is intentionally inclusive. Women like Sandra Perkins-Lighe, who leads a moringa-tea-powder production business with sustainable, locally sourced ingredients, will share how microfinance access and targeted training helped her expand from home garage to regional markets. Youth entrepreneurs will showcase digital tools and platforms that connect local producers with buyers near and far. And entrepreneurs with disabilities will highlight accessible business models and support networks that keep everyone in the growth journey.
Real-world learning, hands-on workshops: Attendees will participate in practical workshops designed to boost export readiness, digital presence, and efficient production. Topics range from “Business and AI in the 21st Century” to “Marketing, Branding & Digital Sales Strategies,” ensuring that a small business can take concrete steps toward bigger markets and better revenue streams.
Making Made-in-Liberia a brand people trust: The focus on quality, packaging, and green production is more than a marketing push; it’s a commitment to healthier communities and a healthier planet. The conference emphasizes sustainable practices that protect local resources while expanding families’ ability to thrive.
What the event means on a personal level:
For many Liberians, the conference represents more than top-line numbers or policy debates. It’s about ordinary people building extraordinary futures for their children. For families like the Kamara and Peters households, the conference brings the promise of better schooling for the next generation, improved medical access through enhanced local economic stability, and a sense of national pride in products proudly stamped Made-in-Liberia.
Quotes from attendees and organizers underscore the human dimension:
“This isn’t just a policy event; it’s a family event,” says Luther D. Jeke, a small business development expert who has mentors dozens of micro-entrepreneurs. “When you empower a woman with access to markets and finance, you empower an entire household to dream bigger.”
“Our goal is simple: make it easier for Liberian makers to compete with quality and pride,” notes Deputy Minister for Small Business Administration, Hon. Benedict A. Dolo, who chairs the conference Steering Committee. “We’re building an ecosystem where every small business can grow into a stable, sustainable enterprise.”
How the conference ties to Liberia’s development vision:
National Development Plan alignment: The conference furthers NDP 2025–2029 goals by promoting inclusive growth, competitiveness, and value-added production through Made-in-Liberia products. It also drives policy reforms, access to finance, and market development.
ARREST Agenda integration: With a focus on inclusive growth and economic transformation, the event emphasizes entrepreneurship support, capacity building, job creation, and social inclusion for women, youth, and persons with disabilities.
Made-in-Liberia economy: By prioritizing quality, branding, packaging, green production, and digital visibility, the conference strengthens domestic value chains, export readiness, and resilient livelihoods.
Why this matters to everyday Liberians:
Repairing the access gap: Clear policy ideas and practical steps to help local makers sell more at home and abroad.
Building trust in local products: Quality improvements, better packaging, and digital presence that help Liberian goods stand out.
Community uplift: More inclusive entrepreneurship translates into stronger families, safer neighborhoods, and brighter futures.
What to expect and how to engage:
Conference participation: December 8–10, 2025, at the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Ministerial Complex in Congo Town, Monrovia. Open conversations, panels, and business matchmaking will connect MSMEs with policymakers, bankers, and potential partners.
Informational lectures: Regulatory and support agencies will provide guidance on registration, taxation, environmental compliance, standards, and intellectual property.
Cash Grant Awards: 20 outstanding local businesses will be recognized for their contributions and potential.
Organizer and contact:
Organizers: Bureau of Small Business Administration (SBA) and the Ministry of Commerce & Industry (MoCI), in collaboration with the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Ministerial Complex.
For updates and more information, visit the conference’s official Facebook page: Liberia MSMEs Conference & Trade Fair 2025.
Tagline: “Made-in-Liberia: Empowering Local Quality, Global Vision and Sustainable Future.”
Join the story:
If you’re a maker, a mother, a student programmer, a farmer, or a local artisan, your voice matters at this conference. Attend, contribute your insights, and be part of a movement that aims to turn everyday work into lasting prosperity for Liberia.
