Washington, D.C. : During her week-long official visit to the United States from May 12-18, 2013, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf was actively engaged in a series of activities in the interest of Liberia and the global community.
The President’s visit began in New York, where, as one of three co-Chairs, she attended the final meeting of the High-Level Panel of Eminent Persons on the Post-2015 Development at the United Nations Headquarters.
The other co-Chairs of the HPL are President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono of Indonesia and Prime Minister David Cameron of the United Kingdom.
In Washington, D.C., President Sirleaf met with ranking members of the United States Congress, including both the House and Senate Committees on Foreign Relations, and with the U.S. Deputy Secretary of Defense, Mr. Ashton Carter, among others.
On the second day of her visit to Washington, the Liberian leader addressed a meeting of the Corporate Council of Africa’s new Liberia Working Group, laying out the country’s potential, as well as its challenges, and inviting U.S. companies to come and invest in Liberia, as other countries are doing, citing opportunities in such areas as construction, power, ports, and housing, to name a few.
“What can you do? What’s your potential?” President Sirleaf asked the U.S. business sector, and added, “You’re letting it get away from you! Asia, China and Europe are seeing the great potential in Africa, in Liberia, responding to it, and you’re not there.”
The President said that with the Liberia Working Group, “which I’m very pleased about, we can really now get down to work to really look at these opportunities, look at these potentials, identify, realistically, where business people from the U.S. can begin to come and take advantage of the potential.”
The Corporate Council for Africa (CCA) event took place in the Roosevelt Ballroom of The Ritz-Carlton Hotel. The topic was “Private Engagement for Liberia’s Economic Future,” and the program included a question-and-answer period.
Earlier, President Sirleaf was welcome by Mr. Stephen Hayes, President and CEO of the CCA. Mr. Hayes said the Liberia Working Group is the CCA’s newest addition, and its purpose is to bring together persons who are seriously committed to investing or already are investing in Liberia.
Mr. Hayes recognized the role being played by the two Honorary Chairs – Liberia’s Ambassador to the United States, H.E. Jeremiah C. Sulunteh; and U.S. Ambassador to Liberia, H.E. Deborah Malac, both of whom were present.
President Sirleaf also served as the special guest and interviewee at a Reuters Newsmaker event, where she discussed her administration’s development goals and the challenges it faces in moving from conflict to sustained peace and prosperity.
The well-attended Reuters Newsmaker event was held under the theme: “Liberia – The Road to Peace and Prosperity.”
Another highlight of the President’s Washington trip was a visit to the Embassy of Liberia on Saturday, May 18, during which she held audience with Ambassador Sulunteh and staff of the Embassy.
President Sirleaf lauded Ambassador Sulunteh and staff for their sacrifices and contributions in the service of our beloved country, Liberia.
She underscored the need for honesty and dedication by the staff in the discharge of their duties at the Embassy.
President Sirleaf reaffirmed the government’s commitment to improving conditions at the Embassy. Welcoming the President earlier, Ambassador Sulunteh gave a general overview of the state of affairs at the Embassy.
Among members of the President’s official delegation were, Minister of National Defense, Hon. Brownie J. Samukai; the Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism, Hon. Lewis Brown; and Cllr. Seward Cooper, Legal Advisor to the President.
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