NATIONAL NEWS
MONROVIA – President Joseph Nyuma Boakai Sr. has reaffirmed the strategic importance of ArcelorMittal Liberia to the country’s economic recovery, infrastructure development, and long-term growth, placing the company at the center of Liberia’s investment and legislative priorities for 2026.
Delivering his Annual Message to the 55th Legislature on Monday, President Boakai highlighted the Third Amendment to the Mineral Development Agreement with ArcelorMittal Holdings as one of the key pieces of pending legislation requiring urgent attention.
He warned that delays in passing reform-oriented laws, including this amendment, could undermine efforts to strengthen institutions and accelerate economic growth.
By: Trokon S. Wrepue – trokon1992seokin@gmail.com
“Also pending before you are the bills to establish the Civil Service Commission, and the Third Amendment to the Mineral Development Agreement with ArcelorMittal Holdings,” the President told lawmakers.
By emphasizing this legislation, President Boakai positioned ArcelorMittal Liberia not merely as a concessionaire, but as a central player in the Government’s broader reform agenda aimed at improving governance, boosting investment confidence, and ensuring greater national benefits from natural resource extraction.
The President also highlighted ArcelorMittal Liberia while outlining major investment agreements concluded by the Government in 2025. He disclosed that the amended agreement with ArcelorMittal Liberia, alongside a Concession and Access Agreement with Ivanhoe for the Yekepa–Buchanan rail corridor, forms part of approximately US$4 billion in committed investments.
According to President Boakai, these investments are expected to drive economic growth, expand infrastructure, and create employment opportunities for Liberians.
He emphasized that in 2025, key agreements—including the amended deal with ArcelorMittal Liberia—were signed to boost economic growth, infrastructure development, and job creation.
Although not repeatedly named throughout the speech, ArcelorMittal Liberia’s impact was reinforced through remarks on iron ore exports and mining-led growth.
President Boakai reported that the mining sector expanded by 17 percent in 2025, while exports grew by over 31 percent, reaching about US$2.1 billion.
He noted that foreign investments in iron ore mining are strengthening Liberia’s external sector, boosting exports, improving the current account, and supporting foreign exchange stability.
The Annual Message also emphasized reforms in rail and port infrastructure—areas closely linked to ArcelorMittal Liberia’s operations.
The Government’s push for concession and access agreements for the Yekepa–Buchanan rail corridor signals a policy direction toward shared-use infrastructure that supports multiple investors while safeguarding national interests.
President Boakai’s address makes clear that ArcelorMittal Liberia remains a key pillar of Liberia’s economic agenda for 2026 and beyond.
