According to an Executive Mansion press release, they, however, advanced a number of proposals that will enhance their plans to remain operational that the release did not spell out.

The two companies pointed out that they cannot abandon Liberia during such a difficult time, and hoped that the current global situation will improve.

The Arcelor Mittal-Liberia and Firestone-Liberia managements gave the assurance during separate meetings with President Sirleaf at her temporary Foreign Ministry office in Monrovia at the weekend.

According to the release, the Liberian leader and the two management teams discussed means of mitigating the impact of the current global meltdown in the prices of both natural rubber and iron ore on the global market.

In remarks, President Sirleaf thanked the two delegations for committing themselves to remain operational in Liberia despite the current global crisis and assured them of government’s commitment to working with them to achieve their goals.

She instructed relevant agencies and ministries to sit with the two companies to discuss the measures being proposed to find a way forward.

The Liberian President also reminded the two companies that government is also experiencing its own share of the impact of the global meltdown in the prices of iron ore and rubber and emphasized that moving towards value addition is one sure way of enhancing their operations in Liberia.

She indicated that getting involved with value addition will help boost the economy and help create the needed jobs for the Liberian people.

The Arcelor Mittal-Liberia delegation included the executive vice president and head of iron ore, Kleber Silva; general manager Joseph Matthews; and Michel Prive; while the Firestone-Liberia delegation comprised the president and managing director, Edmundo L. Garcia; director, administrative operations, technology, manufacturing and procurement, Don Darden; and Attorney Gerald Padmore.
LINA PR/TSS/PTK