Liberia is pursuing a strategic partnership with leading French and Francophone standards institutions as part of efforts to strengthen the country’s quality infrastructure, improve product competitiveness, and expand access to regional and international markets.
The initiative emerged from discussions between the Embassy of Liberia in Paris, France’s AFNOR Group, and the Réseau Normalisation et Francophonie (RNF) Network, focusing on enhancing Liberia’s national standards system and building institutional capacity for quality assurance and certification.
The meeting brought together Liberia’s Ambassador to France, Dr. Teeko Tozay Yorlay Sr., and Franck Lebeugle, Deputy Director General of AFNOR Group, Director of Standardization Activities, and President of the RNF Network. Paul Passerat also participated on behalf of the AFNOR delegation.
The engagement forms part of the Liberian Embassy’s broader economic diplomacy agenda aimed at attracting technical expertise, fostering international partnerships, and supporting the country’s long-term economic development goals.
A major focus of the discussions was the proposed membership of the Liberia Standards Authority (LiSA) in the RNF Network, an international non-profit organization that promotes collaboration among standards institutions across Francophone countries and beyond.
According to officials, RNF membership would provide LiSA with access to technical resources, specialized training programs, professional exchanges, and other opportunities designed to strengthen its operational and institutional capacity.
The parties also explored the possibility of establishing a formal framework for cooperation through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) involving LiSA, AFNOR Group, and the RNF Network. The proposed agreement would facilitate technical assistance, capacity-building initiatives, and institutional collaboration, subject to further consultations among the parties.
Speaking during the meeting, Ambassador Yorlay underscored the importance of a robust standards and quality assurance system in advancing Liberia’s economic transformation agenda.
He noted that stronger national standards would improve product quality and consistency, enabling Liberian producers and businesses to comply with international requirements and access wider markets.
“Quality infrastructure is essential to industrial growth, trade expansion, investment promotion, and private-sector development,” Ambassador Yorlay emphasized, highlighting the role of standardization in strengthening economic competitiveness.
He further noted that the proposed partnership aligns with President Joseph Nyuma Boakai Sr.’s ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development, particularly its objectives relating to agricultural transformation, economic diversification, infrastructure expansion, and private-sector growth.
Discussions identified several key sectors for potential collaboration, including agriculture and agro-processing, technical and vocational training, institutional development, and the adoption and implementation of internationally recognized standards.
Priority agricultural commodities highlighted during the talks included rice, cassava, coffee, and cocoa, all of which are considered important to Liberia’s efforts to expand value-added production and increase exports.
Beyond agriculture, both sides examined cooperation opportunities in fisheries, construction, maritime activities, renewable energy, and environmental management.
Ambassador Yorlay also pointed to the growing relationship between Liberia and France, noting that the October 2025 engagement between President Boakai and French President Emmanuel Macron helped create renewed momentum for practical cooperation between the two nations.
For his part, Lebeugle welcomed Liberia’s interest in strengthening its standardization framework and exploring participation in the RNF Network. He outlined prospects for technical exchanges, institutional support, and increased access to global standardization resources.
The meeting concluded with an agreement to advance discussions on a draft MoU, which AFNOR Group is expected to submit to LiSA for consideration. A follow-up engagement is anticipated in the coming weeks to review membership arrangements and identify priority areas for implementation.
The Embassy of Liberia in Paris will work closely with LiSA to assess national priorities and move the proposed partnership forward.
