A high-powered delegation from South Korea’s Make Group has paid a follow-up visit to the Liberia Maritime Authority (LiMA) in Monrovia, signaling growing momentum in talks to develop Liberia into a shipbuilding hub for West Africa. Led by Chairman James Juhee Han, the Make Group delegation met with senior officials of LiMA on Tuesday to advance plans for a wide-ranging maritime investment package that includes shipbuilding, dry-docking, and ship-recycling facilities in Liberia Deputy Commissioner for Domestic Vessel Registration and Safety, Hon. John F. Harvey, welcomed the delegation on behalf of the Commissioner/CEO of LiMA, Cllr. Neto Zarzar Lighe Sr., and hailed the group’s “sustained interest” in Liberia’s maritime transformation.
He disclosed that potential investment sites have already been identified. “The Make Group’s commitment aligns with Liberia’s long-term maritime vision under the ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development (AAID),” Deputy Commissioner Harvey pledged the Authority’s support to accelerate the initiative. The Make Group delegation included DongGwon Sung, Chairman of All for Land Group; SukJoo Kim, President of GCIC Han & Brothers; and other senior executives. The team reaffirmed its commitment to establish an integrated ship value chain in Liberia — a move that will strengthen the country’s maritime infrastructure, create thousands of jobs, and expand inland water transport services.
“This visit reinforces Make Group’s determination to move from dialogue to delivery,” Chairman Han emphasized the company’s readiness to begin technical assessments once the agreements are signed. This visit marks the fourth high-level engagement between the two parties this year, following earlier meetings in Monrovia and Seoul that mapped out cooperation in shipbuilding, ferry operations, and maritime workforce development. The engagement reflects LiMA’s commitment to unlocking the Blue Economy and positioning Liberia as a strategic maritime hub in West Africa. When finalized, the partnership could lead to a major expansion in Liberia’s industrial capacity, transforming its coastal economy and strengthening the nation’s role in the global maritime industry.
