Petroleum & Investment: Liberia’s LPRA has opened prequalification for the 2026 Direct Negotiation Petroleum Licensing Round, aiming to qualify offshore explorers ahead of a Q4 launch; successful applicants keep eligibility for five years, with assessments focused on technical capacity, finances, and offshore experience. Finance & Credit Access: The Central Bank of Liberia launched an Enhanced Collateral Registry System to modernize secured lending and help MSMEs turn assets into credit, supported by IFC under LIFT-P. Maritime Skills: Liberia’s Maritime Authority awarded a second Chinese government scholarship for advanced maritime studies, reinforcing Liberia-China cooperation on training and capacity building. Agribusiness & Rural Production: LUYCSD certified 50 women in Nimba County after practical training in homemade organic fertilizers and pest-control, targeting lower input costs and better yields. Construction & Health Infrastructure: Work is underway on the President Joseph Nyuma Boakai Regional Diagnostic Center in Bong to decentralize specialized testing and reduce patient travel to Monrovia. Justice & Forestry Revenue: Liberia’s Supreme Court upheld convictions in the US$6m forestry Private Use Permit scandal, sentencing five former officials to one year each and ordering US$10,000 restitution. Local Governance Watch: Bong County’s FY2026 budget faces public scrutiny over project delivery, spending priorities, and monitoring capacity. Digital Trade Payments: A new push for digital payment interoperability is highlighted through Liberia’s cross-border traders, showing how safer, faster transfers can support commerce without carrying cash.