Edina, Grand Bassa County: The Liberia Maritime Authority (LiMA), led by its Commissioner/CEO, Cllr. Neto Zarzar Lighe, Sr., joined a high-level Government of Liberia delegation and representatives of the South Korean investment giant Make Group on a site identification visit to Edina, Grand Bassa County, in furtherance of plans to establish a shipbuilding, dry-docking, and ship-recycling facility in the historic coastal city.
The delegation was headed by the Minister of State Without Portfolio, Haja Mamakai Bility, and included senior government officials, local leaders, and representatives of Make Group. The visit focused on assessing a parcel of land selected by the citizens of Edina as the proposed location for the investment project, which is expected to create thousands of direct and indirect employment opportunities while significantly stimulating economic growth in Grand Bassa County and Liberia as a whole.
Speaking at the conclusion of the site identification exercise, Minister Bility described the proposed investment as a key component of President Joseph Nyuma Boakai’s vision of creating meaningful employment opportunities for Liberians.
“This proposed investment represents hope and opportunity for the people of Grand Bassa. The President’s heart is with the people, and he is committed to ensuring that this project succeeds because it has the potential to transform lives through job creation and economic empowerment,” Minister Bility said.
The Chairman of Make Group, Mr. James Juhee Han reaffirmed his company’s commitment to not only creating jobs but also equipping Liberians with the technical skills necessary to benefit from the project.
“I see Liberia as a second home. I have worked in Liberia for the past twenty-three years and have always appreciated the warm welcome and hospitality extended to us. We are committed to working closely with local authorities and communities to provide training and employment opportunities for young people,” Mr. Han stated.
His remarks were met with enthusiasm from residents who gathered to welcome the delegation, chanting, “Develop Edina fast, fast.” Grand Bassa County Superintendent Karyou Johnson hailed the proposed investment as a transformative opportunity for the county.
“To witness a project of this magnitude being considered for Grand Bassa is truly remarkable. Even before the commencement of the investment, Make Group has already demonstrated its commitment to the county through contributions to the education sector, including the renovation of the Edina Public School and other community initiatives. We are grateful for the strong partnership being built between Make Group and the people of Edina,” Superintendent Johnson noted.
Also speaking during the visit, Grand Bassa County Electoral District #1 Representative Isaac G. Bannie pledged his support for the project and assured citizens that he would work with relevant stakeholders to facilitate the realization of the investment.
“As a representative of the people, I will do everything within my power to support this initiative because it is in the best interest of our citizens and the future development of our county,” Representative Bannie said.
The Government of Liberia delegation also included the Minister of Public Works, Roland Layfette Giddings; the Chairman of the National Investment Commission, Jeff B. Blibo; the Chairman of the Liberia Land Authority, Samuel F. Kpakio; and other senior government officials.
The proposed investment aligns with Liberia’s broader maritime and industrial development agenda and is expected to position Edina as a strategic hub for maritime services in West Africa while creating sustainable economic opportunities for local communities.
