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Liberian ports generate 26.9 mln USD in 2014 despite Ebola scare

Xinhua, January 17, 2015 Adjust font size:

Liberia's National Port Authority (NPA) on Friday said it generated 26.9 million U.S. dollars as revenue during 2014 despite disruptions from Ebola virus that affected vessels docking at various ports across the country.

The NPA was established by an act of National legislature under the 1967 Port act of Liberia with mandate to supervise sea ports across the country.

"We would have had a double amount, but we all know the story about this deadly disease. This epidemic which ravaged our economy scared away investors who mostly used our port system to transport goods to Liberia," Matilda Parker, the NPA's Managing Director told reporters in Monrovia, the nation's capital.

She said the port of Buchanan, Greenville, Harper and Monrovia are major sources for revenue generation and that plans are underway to make our ports attract foreign ships to dock here.

"We have already started carrying out major work at some of the four ports like Buchanan has been raised to international standard and a good number of ships are now docking there, which is good for our economy," Parker said.

The port of Buchanan is the second largest port in Liberia and is utilized by ArcelorMittal ship it ore to customer worldwide.

At the same time, over 500 ships docked at various ports in Liberia during 2014 that help generate revenues, Parker told reporters.

She said NPA is far in implementing a 25 year plan aimed at upgrading port facilities, which will increase the number of vessels coming to Liberia from 500 to 5,000 each year.

She said improving the ports will also create job opportunities for Liberians. Endi