Press Release: Statement by IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde at the Conclusion of Visit to Liberia

September 11, 2015

Press Release No. 15/409
September 11, 2015

Ms. Christine Lagarde, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), issued the following statement today in Monrovia at the conclusion of her visit to Liberia:

“My visit to Liberia has been extremely fruitful and informative, and I am grateful for the warm hospitality I received from everyone I met. I wish to thank President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and the Liberian authorities, as well as members of the Liberian Legislature, for our constructive and substantive discussions. I also had the honor to address a broad cross-section of the Liberian community, including students and members of civil society, and to meet with women leaders and representatives of the private sector. I was heartened to visit the Young Women Christian Association, which has demonstrated a deep commitment to supporting Liberia’s most vulnerable citizens at a time of crisis.

“I complimented the authorities on the country’s heroism and resilience in fighting the Ebola pandemic. The Ebola outbreak brought the economy to a halt in 2014-15 and had a disproportionately large impact on the poorest households. The victory over Ebola allows the country to restore growth and focus on implementing its ambitious economic transformation agenda. My discussions throughout my visit confirmed that Liberians are well aware of the challenges and can unite, as they did in defeating Ebola, to take the steps necessary to revitalize the economy.

“During the Ebola crisis, we worked closely with President Johnson Sirleaf and her government in confronting the outbreak, providing $130 million of financing and debt relief. The IMF will remain fully engaged in Liberia’s ongoing recovery efforts to ensure that the country returns to strong and inclusive growth—a reflection of our close partnership since Liberia joined the Fund in 1963.”

IMF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT

Media Relations
E-mail: media@imf.org
Phone: 202-623-7100