Atlanta is the second in a series of four U.S. cities selected to host symposia initiated by the Liberian American Partnership Initiative and the Liberian embassy in Washington to encourage private investment in Liberia.

The Atlanta symposium will be held Saturday, Oct. 6, at the Atlanta Civic Center from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and will be attended by Charles Minor, the Liberian ambassador to the U.S., along with Eugene Shannon, the country’s minister of lands, mines and energy.

Currently enjoying newfound political stability, Liberia needs private investment to create the basic infrastructure necessary for the country’s economy to move from mere subsistence to advanced development and prosperity, Wilfred Harris, president of the partnership initiative, told GlobalAtlanta. 

And Liberians in the U.S. should lead the way in providing the financial capital necessary for many projects in a manner similar to what Chinese investors are doing now.

“Our duly elected president has decided that in order for Liberia to move forward, we need to seek private investment in Liberia, he said.  “Our target group is Liberians, because they have to invest in Liberian affairs.”

Atlanta was selected as one of the host cities because of Georgia’s large population of Liberians and African-Americans as well as its business and educational ties with the West African country.

“Atlanta is a very unique place.  There is a very large professional, business-based black community in Atlanta, and there are many major black universities and colleges in Atlanta,” said Mr. Harris, who insisted that skin color is not the issue.  Anyone is welcome at the symposium, which costs $50 in advance or $65 at the door.

Perhaps a more compelling tie between Atlanta and Liberia is Harvard University-educated Liberian president Ellen Johnson-Saleaf’s personal predilection for Atlanta.

In May, Ms. Johnson-Saleaf spoke at Spelman College and in May 2006, she came to watch her granddaughter graduate from an North Cobb High School.  In fact, her visits have become so frequent that she has come under fire in Liberia from those who say she has “adopted Atlanta,” according to Mr. Harris.

“She comes here all the time, I don’t think she comes to any city (outside Liberia) like she comes to Atlanta,” Mr. Harris said.

Mr. Harris said Liberia is recovering from 14 years of anarchy, and he compared the country to post-World War II Europe, citing the need for allies to support the country’s economic development.

He said that China has invested $52 billion in Africa to build stadiums and road systems, and many Chinese are physically moving to Liberia as well.

“You have to make friends before you need them, and that’s what the Chinese are doing,” Mr. Harris said, adding that many West Africans would rather do business with the U.S. but that America is not showing enough interest in the region.

Mr. Harris said that many organizations estimate that there are around 5,000 Liberians in Georgia, but that this guess is by no means scientific.

The Liberian American Partnership Initiative is based in Atlanta.