Acting NPA deputy managing director for administration, Nyekeh Forkpa, revealed that a deal was close to being struck with the Dutch firm regarding the ports of Monrovia, Buchanan, Greenville and Harper.

“Management has already dredged the port of Buchanan and I can assure you that we will soon commence the dredging works at the ports of Monrovia and Greenville,” he stated.

Liberia’s main port, Monrovia, is operated by APM Terminals (APMT) under a wholly-owned 25 year concession that began last year. At present, international organisations such as the UN are the main customers at Monrovia, but the government of President Ellen Sirleaf-Johnson hopes that the private sector will become a more important factor in trade over the next few years.

The IMF has forecast growth of 9.4% this year for Liberia, as the country continues the process of recovering from its long civil war. APMT has agreed to invest US$120M in the port over the course of its concession, including reconstruction of the degraded wharf and the purchase of new cargo handling equipment. The redevelopment of the wharf is due to be finished ahead of the scheduled completion date of August 2013.

APMT’s CEO Kim Fejfer said: “The infrastructure investment underway here will enable Liberia to participate more fully in the global trade that will help drive economic growth in this dynamic market.”