–Min. Tweah says the sub-region’s private sector weah
By Augustine Octavius
Liberian Finance and Development Minister, Samuel Tweah has called on governments in West Africa to re-define their partnership with the European Union (EU) in order to ensure sustained private-sector led growth.
He said the private sector in West African countries remains weak and unable to absorb young people entering the labor market at such alarming rate.
Miniater Tweah made the call when he was elected President of the ninth regional meeting of network of the national authorizing offices of the European Development Fund in West Africa in Monrovia.
According to Minister Tweah, Liberia will work closely with West African countries and the European Union to stretch the impact of EU assistance in member counties through stronger collaboration and technical meetings.
“The EU is at the center of the major transformation taking place in West Africa especially in infrastructure space; Minister Tweah said; adding: “West Africa look forward to more support and using EU assistance effectively and efficiently.”
In remarks, the Deputy Parminent Secretary for ECOWAS of the Gambia, Ansumana Touray, said the West African region is faced with the challenge of terrorism, migration and food insecurity.
Mr. Touray, who is the outgoing President of the national authorizing offices of European Development Fund in West Africa, recommended that ECOWAS Heads of State focus peace, security, and regional security including support to ECOWAS in its regional peace and security mandate.
He also proposed regional economic integration and trade to strengthen sustainable development of natural resources and biodiversity.
For her part, the head of the EU delegation to Liberia, Ambassador Helen Cave said the EU will continue to remain a trusted partner in its socio economic and political development in West Africa.
She noted that the national authorizing offices are very important to the cooperation of EU assistance in member states of the West African region because these units serve as the spring-board through which the union can connect and coordinate its activities.
According to Ambassador Cave, the priority of the EU’s assistance remains in peace, security, regional integration and the preservation of the forest.
The meeting, which is expected to last for three days, brought representatives from all member states of ECOWAS.
The Authorizing officers will discuss security, regional integration, trade and terrorism that has engulfed some member states.
The network was established to enable national authoring offices of the European Development Fund to share and communicate technical and development experience.