OPEC Fund provides US$20 million loan to strengthen Liberia’s roads and trade links

August 12, 2025: The OPEC Fund for International Development (the OPEC Fund) is committing US$20 million to support the rehabilitation of critical transport infrastructure in southeastern Liberia. The financing will contribute to the upgrading of a 48.5 km road corridor between John Davies Town and Zwedru, helping to improve access, mobility and economic opportunity for about 300,000 people.

OPEC Fund President Abdulhamid Alkhalifa said: 

“Reliable, climate-resilient infrastructure is fundamental to unlocking growth and improving lives. This project will not only connect communities in Liberia but also deepen trade and integration across the Mano River Union region.”

The project forms part of the Mano River Union Road Development and Transport Facilitation Program, co-financed with the African Development Bank. The Mano River Union brings together four neighboring West African countries: Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea and Côte d’Ivoire, to strengthen regional cooperation and development. The John Davies Town–Zwedru corridor is a strategic link within the regional network connecting Liberia to Sierra Leone and Guinea. Once rehabilitated, the road is expected to reduce travel time, ease the movement of goods and people and facilitate increased cross-border trade.

In addition to upgrading the road itself, the project will help facilitate trade by improving border infrastructure, reducing processing times and encouraging smoother coordination between the parties involved in cross-border transport. These improvements will lower costs for businesses, strengthen regional economic ties and improve access to markets for smallholder farmers and entrepreneurs in local communities.

The OPEC Fund has supported Liberia’s development priorities since 1978, with investments spanning agriculture, transport, energy and fisheries.

About the OPEC Fund

The OPEC Fund for International Development (the OPEC Fund) is the only globally mandated development institution that provides financing from member countries to non-member countries exclusively. The organization works in cooperation with developing country partners and the international development community to stimulate economic growth and social progress in low- and middle-income countries around the world. The OPEC Fund was established in 1976 with a distinct purpose: to drive development, strengthen communities and empower people. Our work is people-centered, focusing on financing projects that meet essential needs, such as food, energy, infrastructure, employment (particularly relating to MSMEs), clean water and sanitation, healthcare and education. To date, the OPEC Fund has committed more than US$29 billion to development projects in over 125 countries with an estimated total project cost of more than US$200 billion. The OPEC Fund is rated AA+/Outlook Stable by Fitch and S&P Global Ratings. Our vision is a world where sustainable development is a reality for all.