FAQs

Provided that the items/supplies are purchased for use with the investment activity and placed in service within one year of purchase, duty exemption is given on the following:

• Medical and educational equipment and supplies purchased in connection with the investment activity
• duty exemption on the importation of machinery and equipment
• duty exemption on the importation of capital spare parts
• Tax holiday
• Preferential tariff for electricity-when available

Automobiles, small trucks, and importation of fuel and lubricant are prohibited from exemption under this provision.

According to the Economic Empowerment Tax Amendment Act of 2016, Amendments to Section 16, and related amendments to Section 204 (d), to qualify for investment incentives:

• Investment capital must be at least USD $500,000.00.
• If the investment is for establishing a hospital or health clinic, the minimum capital should be no less than $50,000.00.

Investment should fall within specific sectors:

• Tourism – carried out through tourist resorts, hotels, and cultural sites
• Manufacturing – at least 60% of local raw material content
• Energy
• Hospitals and medical clinics
• Housing – low and medium income
• Transport infrastructure
• Information Technology
• Banking in the non-banking areas in the southeastern regions and in zone 1
• Poultry
• Horticulture
• Exportation of sea products
• Agricultural – food crop cultivation and processing including cocoa and coffee
• Small and medium scale rubber and oil palm cultivation and processing
  
   

• Agriculture and Agro-processing (rubber, oil palm, rice, cassava, marine fisheries, aquaculture, horticulture, cocoa)
• Energy
• Infrastructure (ICT, port management, real estate/housing, logistics, oil, and gas)
• Education
• Health
• Manufacturing
• Waste management
• Mining

Provisions in the Investment Act of 2012 reserves ownership of the following business activities exclusively for Liberians:

Foreign investors may invest in the following with these conditions, an exclusively owned by non-Liberian, the capital requirement shall not be less than USD $500,000 and where Liberian own at least 25%, the capital requirement shall not be less than USD $300,000:

• Production and supply of stone and granite
• Ice cream manufacturing
• Commercial printing
• Advertising agencies, graphics and commercial artists
• Cinemas
• Production of poultry and poultry products
• Operation of water purification or bottling plant (excludes the production and sale of water in sachets
• Entertainment centers not connected with a hotel establishment
• Sale of animal and poultry feed
• Operation of heavy-duty trucks
• Bakeries
• Sale of pharmaceuticals
  
   

Investor apply to the Liberia National Investment Commission (NIC) with the following:

• Business Registration
• Articles of Incorporation
• Business plan/project proposal
• Tax clearance
• Hard copy and soft copy on a USB of the Business Plan
• NIC conducts economic evaluation and makes a recommendation to the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning for certification based on:
  • Projects of value-added potential
  • Employment generation
  • Degree and condition of Liberian participation
  • Usage of local raw materials

The Minister of Finance either grants or rejects the incentive request.

Address your Investment Incentive request to:

The Chairman
National Investment Commission
M&E Professional Building,
UN Drive, P. O. Box 9043
Monrovia, Liberia

If granted, an Investment Incentive contract is signed.

The NIC is working towards the growth of a sustainable domestic private sector in Liberia. Amongst the steps taken are:

• Business Linkage - a program to increase the procurement of local goods and services by the many concessionaires operating within our borders
• Seeking budgetary support for a two million United States dollars Economic Stimulus Package intended to support the growth of small and medium enterprises
• The NIC is working with the Liberia Bankers Association on access to finance and the availability of financial products to Liberian businesses throughout the country.
• The NIC is working with other partners to ensure the availability of business support services throughout the length and breadth of Liberia.
• The NIC is also working with business associations such as Liberian Business Association, Liberia Chamber of Commerce, etc. in addressing issues affecting them and has successfully assisted individual Liberian businesses to access incentives, finance, and land among other things.