Liberia's new president plans agriculture push, Sime major investor

A May 27 2011 file picture shows the then Liberian vice-president Joseph Boakai planting Sime Darby's first oil palm seedling at Matambo Estate, Grand Cape Mount County in Liberia accompanied by Sime Darby's former chairman Tun Musa Hitam.

MONROVIA: Liberian President-elect George Weah on Tuesday set modest goals for his six-year term, calling for Liberia to start exporting crops and repairing decrepit infrastructure, in his first interview since winning election last week.

More than 60 percent of Liberians depend on agriculture for their livelihood and multinationals like Malaysia-based Sime Darby have invested heavily in palm oil plantations. But the sector has languished due to low productivity, forcing Liberia to import more than 80 percent of its staple foods.