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ADNews-Vienna, Austria: Liberia and Austria have agreed to deepen bilateral cooperation in key areas including peace and security, trade and investment, vocational education, diplomatic training and private-sector development.
The discussions took place during a bilateral meeting between Liberia’s Deputy Minister for International Cooperation and Economic Integration, Dr. Ibrahim Nyei, and Austria’s Secretary-General for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Nikolaus Marschik, at the Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs in Vienna.
The meeting comes as the two countries prepare to serve together on the United Nations Security Council in 2027. Liberia is serving a two-year term from 2026–2027, while Austria was elected in June to serve from 2027–2028.
Dr. Nyei called for closer coordination between Liberia and Austria on issues before the Security Council, particularly peace and security in West Africa and the Sahel. He highlighted the importance of the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel, UNOWAS, as a framework for supporting regional stability and cooperation between ECOWAS and the Sahel.
The two officials also discussed opportunities to expand economic relations and encourage greater Austrian private-sector engagement in Liberia. Dr. Nyei highlighted Liberia’s interest in attracting Austrian companies and expertise in areas including energy, digital solutions, vocational education, hospitality and other sectors that can create employment opportunities for young Liberians.
The discussions also focused on Austria’s new Africa Strategy 2026–2029, which provides a framework for stronger engagement with African countries in areas including security, economic cooperation, education and climate action.
On vocational education, the Austrian side expressed readiness to share experience from Austria’s dual apprenticeship model, which combines classroom learning with practical training in companies. Both sides discussed possible exchanges and study visits to explore how aspects of the model could support Liberia’s technical and vocational education programs.
Dr. Nyei also proposed establishing a formal partnership between Liberia’s Foreign Service Institute and the Diplomatic Academy of Vienna. The proposed cooperation would allow the two institutions to exchange expertise and explore joint training programs, including opportunities to train more Liberian diplomats in Liberia.
The Austrian side expressed openness to connecting the two institutions and continuing opportunities for diplomatic training, including programs supporting female diplomats from West Africa.
The meeting also touched on possible Austrian support for hospitality and service-sector training, discussions surrounding an Austrian honorary consular presence in Monrovia, and stronger engagement between Austrian businesses and Liberia.
Both sides reaffirmed their interest in maintaining closer diplomatic engagement and identifying practical areas of cooperation that can strengthen Liberia-Austria relations.
Dr. Nyei was accompanied by the Liberian Ambassador to Germany with co-accreditation to Austria, H.E. Ambassador Youngor S. Telewoda, Assistant Minister for International Organizations, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Daniel Kokoi, and Augustine Hamelberg, Minister of Counsellor at the Embassy of Liberia, Germany with co-accreditation to Austria.
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