MONROVIA, Aug. 11 (LINA) – In an effort to improve the pre- and post-war challenges associated with the business community of Liberia to improve commerce through effective service delivery, the Government of Liberia in partnership with APM Terminals Liberia has launched the Port Automation and Digitization Platform for customers.
Years back, the issue of cargo handling and delivery has been outlandish and did not seem to cease even with the coming in of APM Terminals, the entity charged with the responsibility of managing cargo service delivery at the Freeport of Monrovia.
However, the entity (APM Terminals) over the years has been pressed by multi-port users to do more in addressing the difficulties associated with cargo handling and delivery.
It can be recalled that on December 22, 2020, the National Customs Brokers Association (NCBAL) called on the Government of Liberia to remedy what it termed as “perpetual delay in the clearing and processing of containers at the port,” which was among one of the several backlashes received by previous administrations prior to the inception of the Weah-led administration.
Due to the situation, all parties consolidated their efforts to change the narratives at the APM Terminals, which led to the Government of Liberia in partnership with the management of APM Terminals employing the innovative Port Automation and Digitization (PAD), a platform that will implement the transitioning of cargo handling and delivery from labor-intensive to an automated and digitized processing.
Speaking during the official launch of the platform at the headquarters of the APM Terminals in the facilities of the National Port Authority (NPA), Managing Director of APM Terminals Liberia, Jonathan Graham, stated that the move is intended to bring relief to port users, especially brokers.
The APM Terminal head asserted that the program will also help reduce the time it takes an individual or entity to clear his or her containers from the Freeport of Monrovia.
He disclosed that the project was implemented through a strong collaborative effort with the Government of Liberia, citing that the program will help with the evolution of the Freeport of Monrovia.
Graham added that the launch of the PAD is a critical step forward in the workings of the LRA and APM Terminals, Liberia’s strategy and commitment to improving the efficiency of both customers’ clearance and terminal operations.
This, according to him, further reaffirms the Freeport of Monrovia position as the Gateway to Liberia’s economy and the hub of the Mano River Union basin.
“The initiative originated in partnership with the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning, Liberia Revenue Authority and other port stakeholders in late 2021 and the goal was to digitize and automate the port and customs processes and improve both efficiency and transparency of the clearance processes prior to collecting the physical containers at the Freeport.
“This directly benefits the state-revenue collection, the Liberian business community, Liberians consumers and the greater population,” the AMP Terminals boss noted.
He lauded all of the partners who helped in making the vision a reality, naming the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Development; Ministry of Commerce; LRA, NPA, MTS, Banks, Central Bank; LBDI, UBA, ECOBANK, GTBANK, Shipping Lines, (Maerskline,CMA-CGM,MSC,Grimaldi) as regulatory partners and strong stakeholders in the collective drive to improve port’s efficiency.
Graham reaffirmed the commitment of his entity in making the Freeport of Liberia the distribution hub for the Mano River basin.
“We have said this morning and a hundred times, we want the Freeport of Monrovia to turn into the Mano River basin distribution hub. That is the aim and that’s the goal and this is a step along the way,” the APM Terminals top official said.
For His Part, the Commissioner General of the LRA, Thomas Doe Nah, expressed excitement for the accomplishment of the program, which serves as a foundation for the digitization of the Liberian economy.
“Today I stand here to celebrate a digital partnership between APMT and METEC Liberia. I’m overwhelmed because what has happened is an exhibition of leadership by institutions that have shared vision and shared direction in regards to digitalization,” the LRA boss said.
Commissioner Doe-Nah added that effectuation of the program will help in the enhancement of compliance and efficiency.
The Revenue Technician revealed that the dream of APMT in the digitization process wasn’t that difficult for implementation on grounds that the entity met the LRA with the vision of digitalization already.
In addition, Commissioner Doe-Nah highlighted that the process of digitization was Liberianized because the Government of Liberia under the astute leadership of President George M. Weah has always believed in the exceptional ability of Liberian technicians.
“This process was led by Metus Freeman, Albert Zayzay and obviously Derrick and the other guys from MTN,” the LRA Commissioner-General maintained.
Doe-Nah called on his colleagues across government as well as people in the private sector to welcome the exceptional abilities of Liberian technicians.
“Let me say to all of our colleagues in Government that a lot is possible. If you know Java and you are in Liberia, it is no different from Java in the Silicon Valley.
“A lot can happen here, you only need to believe in the possibility that things can happen,” the LRA boss said.
Meanwhile, the LRA top official has reassured the public of his entity’s commitment to increasing Liberia’s revenue to a billion US dollars annually.
“Let me say importantly that one of the key visions of the LRA is to take our revenue to the billions. And this project tells us that we are on the right trajectory in terms of increasing our revenue and ensuring that we can take our revenue to billions,” the LRA head stressed.
He also assured the public that the LRA is doing all it can to ensure that it digitizes all of its business processes for smooth transactions.
“Before December, we will call you for us to avail our integrated tax administrative system,” the LRA Commissioner General noted.
Also, the Minister of Finance and Development Planning (MFDP), Samuel D. Tweah Jr., stated that the launch of the PAD is momentous on grounds that it is a success of three ingredients – leadership, partnership, and Liberian competence.
He cited that the leadership emanated from APM Terminals first because the current Managing Director of the entity administratively handled and resolved all of the issues between APMT and the government.
“When Jonathan took over at the APMT, the relationship between the Government and APMT was probably at the lowest point. There were confrontations; there were protestations and all kinds of things.
“He walked into the storm. He is a genius in management, and I have now seen his strategy and that’s why whether in politics or warfare, the most important thing is strategy,” Minister Tweah stressed.
He narrated that although the MD of APMT walked into a difficult situation, he saw a common ground for partnership to deliver a quick win.
“He came with a vision of digitalization and he met a vision of digitalization of the Government so in our parlance we say when vision meets vision, success will happen,” Tweah stated.
The MFDP boss explained that the launch of the PAD is “a great day” for the business climate in Liberia and also “a great day for partnership.”
He also acknowledged the leadership ability of President Weah which, according to Mr. Tweah, is embodied in the virtues of partnership and consultation, among others.
“The leadership of President George M. Weah is outstanding because the President is big on partnership with the development community, partnership with the private sector and also big on consultation,” the Finance Minister said
Tweah, furthermore, called on the public to celebrate the competence of Liberians which, according to him, “is very important.”
He lamented that Liberians always see and hear the coming of consultants to Liberia and being paid a huge amount of monies to do simple tasks that Librarians can do.
However, he said there are reputable institutions in Liberia that are providing adequate capacity-building programs that are putting Liberian on par with its international counterparts as it relates to technology.
He added that it is now time that Liberians as well as other nationals in Liberia begin to trust the capabilities of Liberian technicians.
“The time is now because we now see Liberian experts from APMT, LRA, MOC working together to make life more livable to make business easier for Liberian businesses,” Tweah emphasized.
He maintained that Liberians should be given more support in their various fields to do more programs which, according to him, has started happening all over the Government, citing that “it is just a matter of time for the public to see.”
“Development is not a fruit of a plant that grows steadily overnight; it is a piecemeal. You don’t see the work of the trappings of development, but you can see the results.
“But sometimes when those works are going on people are impatient. There is a lot of criticism about the National Port Authority on the gate access that is out there.
“While the port is too expensive, it is too cumbersome, everything is war in Liberia,” cited Minister Tweah.
On the contrary, Minister Tweah said the tariff rate in Liberia is among the lowest in Africa, noting, “We looked at the number, so it is not the rate, maybe it is some of the bureaucratic processes but today we are here to solve one of those problems.”
In addition to the launch of the PAD at the Freeport of Monrovia, Minister Tweah announced that one of the big things the government wants to do at the port is the dredging of the port to ensure the reduction in fees.
“If we don’t dredge the port, bigger ships won’t come and if small ships bring the shipments, they will overcharge but for bigger vessels they will reduce cost,” Tweah stated.
He revealed that the Government of Liberia along with its partners is doing everything possible in order to dredge the port in a year or two.
Additionally, Tweah assured the public that there are other projects behind the scene that are intended to bring relief to the public.
He named a project with the CBL which is developing a national switch aimed at digitizing the Liberian economy.
“They say that the national switch will be the game changer in the digital economy in Liberia, all the experts say that,” the Finance Minister observed.
He maintained that digitization is happening across the government in Liberia and it is making significant strides to ensure that it happens to effectuate efficiency.
Tweah extolled all of the Government technicians that are helping to make the vision of digitization come to a reality.
“Thanks to all of our development partners for this wonderful support, let’s work for the progress of Liberia. Let’s continue to ease the cost of doing business in Liberia and help accelerate the business process in the country,” Tweah indicated.
