Monrovia, Liberia, June 4, 2025 – South Korea’s leading investment firm, MakeGroup, is setting its sights on Liberia’s agriculture sector, expressing a strong interest in forging a transformative partnership with the country. The initiative is a major step toward strengthening international cooperation in support of Liberia’s agricultural and economic growth.
During a high-level meeting with the Ministry of Agriculture in Monrovia, MakeGroup’s Chairman, Mr. James Juhee Han, led a nine-member delegation and outlined the company’s vision for investment in Liberia. The group is considering major projects in agro-processing, cold storage systems, and agricultural machinery hubs, with a focus on long-term infrastructure and maintenance support. Chairman Han emphasized MakeGroup’s intention to go beyond symbolic agreements by proposing a binding Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) rather than a typical Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).
“We do not want this to become just another MOU that is forgotten,” Mr. Han stated. “We want a binding MOA that clearly outlines shared goals and responsibilities. In fact, we are proposing two specific MOAs—one focused on general agriculture and the other on poultry.”
In addition to its agricultural interests, MakeGroup also announced plans to establish a Universal Bank in Liberia with an initial capital of US$100 million. This institution, if realized, would be the largest financial entity in the country, providing specialized services including housing and agriculture. However, Mr. Han noted the company's flexibility to align with the Liberian government’s plan for a dedicated Agriculture Enterprise Development Bank, a proposal currently under legislative review.
Agriculture Minister, Dr. J. Alexander Nuetah, warmly welcomed MakeGroup’s proposal, describing it as a timely and strategic opportunity that aligns closely with the Ministry’s priorities. He praised Chairman Han for his passion and commitment to Liberia’s development.
“Thank you for your passion to develop our country, Mr. Chairman. You have a great plan for Liberia,” Minister Nuetah said. “The priorities you outlined—mechanization, processing, poultry, and cold storage, align perfectly with our national agenda. We will do our best to ensure these plans are realized.”
Minister Nuetah then provided an overview of Liberia’s current agricultural priorities, highlighting the development of 50,000 hectares of lowland for rice production, with 12,000 hectares already mapped. In cassava, he mentioned that construction is underway for the country’s first local starch-processing plant, with plans to expand the model to five other regions. On poultry, the Minister highlighted efforts to reduce feed costs through local maize production and the construction of a feed mill, a hatchery, and slaughterhouses to support export readiness. For mechanization, he explained that Liberia is establishing 18 agricultural machinery hubs, eight of which are currently under construction, with equipment expected to arrive from China by August.
“These are the areas we consider our top priorities,” Minister Nuetah added. “We want to move beyond smallholder farming done in patches. Our goal is to create large, modern, mechanized farms that boost productivity and create jobs.”
Both sides agreed to review and finalize the draft MOAs before the delegation’s departure from Liberia. Chairman Han also requested a detailed list of Liberia’s agricultural priorities to help inform a joint action plan that could guide the partnership moving forward.
The proposed collaboration echoes the Liberian government’s broader strategy to attract long-term, high-impact investment in agriculture as part of its “Liberians Feed Yourselves” agenda. As Liberia pushes toward food security, rural development, and economic self-reliance, partnerships like the one being pursued with MakeGroup are seen as critical to achieving these national goals.