MONROVIA, LIBERIA – Thousands of Liberian Youth are expected to benefit from an urban development project in the tone of 10 million United States Dollars.

The money is being provided by the Government of France through the French Development Agency (AFD) to create employment opportunities for Liberian youth.

The disclosure was made recently by French Ambassador Michael Roux Touts during a courtesy meeting with Finance and Development Planning Minister Samuel Tweah in Monrovia.

Ambassador Roux said since 2018, France has committed 33 million United States Dollars in supporting various development projects through the French Development Agency (AFD) and its NGO partners.

Already the AFD is support Mercy Corps and the Ministry of Youth and Sports to implement a 5 million United States dollar youth empowerment project.

Meanwhile Finance and Development Planning Minister Samuel Tweah has welcomed the latest commitment from the government of France.

During a meeting with the French Ambassador, Minister Tweah stressed the need for support to the private sector to help reposition the local economy.

Minister Tweah said such support could come in the form of loans for small and medium enterprises which will serve as a catalyst to sustain economic recovery and growth.

He disclosed that credit to the private sector has dropped since 2016 but noted there is an ongoing work with relevant financial institutions to encourage bank lending to key sectors such as agriculture.

According to a Finance Ministry release, the meeting with the French Envoy is part of Minister Tweah’s engagements with development partners aimed at getting the economy back on track.