OPIC CEO Visits Liberia and Sierra Leone to Drive Post-Ebola Investment
July 29, 2016
(OPIC)
OPIC President and CEO Elizabeth Littlefield leads group of American and
international executives to explore opportunities for private sector investment
to support recovery
Washington – Elizabeth L. Littlefield, the President and CEO of the Overseas
Private Investment Corporation (OPIC), the U.S. Government’s development finance
institution, traveled to West Africa to lead a delegation of American and
international executives to meet with government officials and business leaders
and identify investment opportunities in the region as it continues to rebound
after the Ebola crisis and collapse in commodity prices.
The five day trip included meetings with the President of Liberia Ellen Johnson
Sirleaf, the President of Sierra Leone Earnest Koroma, the U.S. Ambassador to
Liberia Christine Elder, the U.S. Ambassador to Sierra Leone John Hoover, and a
host of ministers and investors.
“I am so pleased to visit this region and showcase the development and
investment mission that OPIC and our sister U.S. Government agencies have in
Africa,” said OPIC President and Chief Executive Officer Elizabeth L.
Littlefield. “OPIC bridges connections with the private sector to bring
development impact and increase the dynamic investment environment in emerging
markets in Africa.”
During the trip OPIC signed a commitment letter for a $20 million loan to
International Bank Liberia Limited (IBLL) for creation of a loan facility that
will expand local banking services to support lending to local manufacturing,
construction, services, agribusiness, hospitality, and transportation. This
lending will support macroeconomic growth and poverty reduction, and connect
Liberia with the global financial system.
In Liberia and Sierra Leone, the delegation visited a range of projects focused
on different economic growth sectors. They also provided feedback on approaches
and policies that could be applied in-country to accelerate investment. The trip
demonstrates OPIC’s long-standing and continuing commitment to increasing
awareness for private investors of the opportunities for investment in this
critical region.
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