JENDEMA, SIERRA LEONE\u2014 The Mano River Union (MRU) Secretariat, with funding from the African Development Bank (AfDB), today officially launched the first of three planned Regional Trade Fairs under the Building Inclusive Business Ecosystems for Stabilization and Transformation (BI-BEST) Project, implemented by the MRU Secretariat.<\/p>\n
The event held in Jendema, Sierra Leone brought together women cross-border traders (WCBTs), government officials, development partners, project stakeholders, producers and buyers, and featured product exhibitions, networking sessions, market linkage activities, and engagement with service providers including financial institutions, network service providers, and border management officers from both Sierra Leone and Liberia.<\/p>\n
The fair organised under the theme \u201cBridging Borders & Empowering Rural Communities: Enhancing Cross Border Trade for Women\u2019s Empowerment and Regional Integration,\u201d marks a significant milestone in the BI-BEST project\u2019s effort to empower women traders operating in three critical value chains: Palm Oil, Cassava, and Vegetables.<\/p>\n
Senator Dabah M. Varpilah of Grand Cape Mount County, Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health, Republic of Liberia, delivered the keynote address, appreciating the MRU and AfDB for the BI-BEST project, emphasising that regional integration is only meaningful when it improves the daily lives of ordinary citizens \u2014 particularly women traders who have served as ambassadors of cross-border unity, long before formal policies were written.<\/p>\n
\u201cTrade fairs such as this one are therefore far more than ceremonial events. They strengthen local business and encourage innovation and collaboration across borders. Importantly, they remind us that economic empowerment is one of the strongest foundations for peace and stability in our region\u2026 Today, our women cross-border traders deserve more than recognition for their hard work. They deserve policies and investments that make their businesses safer, stronger, and more profitable.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n She continued that as women remain the backbone of agricultural production and local trade across many communities in Liberia and Sierra Leone, they must be placed at the centre of the subregion\u2019s economic agenda which must include practical action through improved border infrastructure, simplified trade procedures, expanded financial opportunities for women-led enterprises, and greater investment in agriculture, market access, and rural development.<\/p>\n The Secretary-General of the Mano River Union Secretariat, Amb. Simeon M. B. Moribah, said the project\u2019s overall objective is to empower women cross-border traders for resilient economic growth and social cohesion, through a series of evidence-based studies and targeted interventions designed to address the structural challenges associated with cross-border trade.<\/p>\n \u201cWe should note that such (trade) fairs can lead to fair trade.\u00a0 Fair trade makes global trade fairer by ensuring that farmers and workers receive better prices, decent working conditions and stronger rights.\u00a0 This fair if focused on products under the three value chains supported by the project. We are all going to witness what our cross-border women traders in the three value chains have been able to do including what other traders will exhibit.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Amb. Moribah continued to appreciate the AfDB for their sustained support to the Mano River Union and hopes it will continue.<\/p>\n Speaking on behalf of Liberia\u2019s Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Assistant Minister for Afro-Asian Affairs- Hon. Charlyne A. Taylor said the Trade Fair initiative reflects the shared commitment of MRU member states to regional integration, inclusive economic growth, and the empowerment of women who drive trade across our borders.<\/p>\n \u201cBy creating a platform that eases cross-border commerce and strengthens cooperation, the program directly advances Liberia\u2019s national priorities for sustainable development and subregional unity. As Liberia\u2019s delegation participates in this opening, we affirm our commitment to supporting this initiative that uplifts women traders and deepens MRU solidarity. We value this partnership and we look forward to a continued collaboration for a just and peaceful Mano River Union.\u201d<\/em> Hon. Taylor said.<\/p>\n Sierra Leone\u2019s Resident Minister- South, Chief John Abu said the trade fair was a history-making day for the people of Sierra Leone and Liberia, who already share a rich cultural heritage. He said despite women trader\u2019s immense contributions to household income, food security and local economic development, they continue to face enormous challenges, but the trade fair create new opportunities for WCBTs to access wider markets beyond their communities.<\/p>\n \u201cToday marks another important milestone in our collective effort to strengthen economic cooperation, promote social cohesion, and deepen regional integration among the two sister nations. This gathering is a testament to the enduring friendship, shared history, and common aspiration that binds Sierra Leone and Liberia together. As business grows families become economically secured, children will have better access to education, and communities will experience improved standards of living. This trade fair demonstrates that our future lies not in isolation, but in collaboration.\u201d<\/em> Chief Abu said.<\/p>\n Giving the vote of thanks, the Project Coordinator and Deputy Secretary General for Peace and Security, Good Governance and Social Affairs, Madam Ange Konan Monu, expressed gratitude to the Heads of states and governments of the MRU, particularly of Sierra Leone and Liberia for visionary leadership, as their commitment to regional integration, peace and cross-border trade gave birth to the BI-BEST Project, and as a result, the trade fair.<\/p>\n \u201cThis trade fair is a beautiful testament to what we can achieve when we erase lines on a map, and focus on our shared heritage and economic future. Our Exhibitors, entrepreneurs and women cross border traders from both sides have showcased ingenuity, resilience and quality products, despite huge logistical challenges. They have proven that our borders are not barriers, but meeting points for growth and innovation. Let the partnership continue to grow, and let this be one of many steps forward.\u201d <\/em>Madam Monu said.<\/p>\n She further appreciated the incredible hospitality of the project communities and professionalism of security and border officials from both nations, who ensured a safe, orderly welcoming environment for everyone involved, proving that security and trade can thrive hand-in hand.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The trade fair continues in Jendema on June 4, before moving to Foya in Liberia and Koindu in Sierra Leone, where it will be held for two days each. In all, the three trade fairs are expected to draw hundreds of women cross-border traders, buyers, producers, and service providers across the two countries, creating market linkages and business opportunities that outlast the events themselves.<\/p>\n The BI-BEST Regional Trade Fairs mark a defining moment in the project\u2019s five-year journey \u2014 translating policy commitments into tangible economic opportunities for women who have long sustained livelihoods and families across one of West Africa\u2019s most dynamic border corridors. As the project moves toward its completion in June 2027, the trade fairs stand as proof that inclusive, community-centred development is not only possible in the Mano River Union subregion, but is already underway.<\/p>\n About the MRU BI-BEST Project\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong><\/p>\n The Building Inclusive Business Ecosystems for Stabilization and Transformation (BI-BEST) project is implemented by the Mano River Union Secretariat with funds from the African Development Bank’s Transition Support Facility. It supports women cross-border traders in Sierra Leone and Liberia across three value chains \u2014 Palm Oil, Cassava, and Vegetables \u2014 to promote resilient economic growth and cohesive social progress in the MRU region.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" JENDEMA, SIERRA LEONE\u2014 The Mano River Union (MRU) Secretariat, with funding from the African Development Bank (AfDB), today officially launched the first of three planned Regional Trade Fairs under the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5537,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[59,52],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5533","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-press-release","category-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/mru.int\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5533","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/mru.int\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/mru.int\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/mru.int\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/mru.int\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5533"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/mru.int\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5533\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5539,"href":"http:\/\/mru.int\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5533\/revisions\/5539"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/mru.int\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5537"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/mru.int\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5533"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/mru.int\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5533"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/mru.int\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5533"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}