BACKGROUND

The Government of Liberia functionaries are making strides to perform their fiscal duties under the current President, who can boast of demonstrated leadership ability.

The Government, buttressed by substantial World Bank, IMF, AfDB, and USAID efforts, recently reported revenue growth in double digit-percentage point increases.

The newly re-elected President Johnson-Sirleaf has mobilized millions of dollars from private individuals and Institutions to support the improvement of the investment climate for both foreign and Liberian businesses.

International debt relief of 3.5 billion dollars has already opened up the country to billions of dollars in reconstruction capital for recovery.

Paramount among Economic Recovery plans is the re-opening and rehabilitation of the private sector as an effective mechanism for increasing output, income, and employment.

Many private businesses are now contributing serious efforts towards strategic positioning to launch commercial operations in all lucrative sectors of the economy.

One of such highly viable sectors is the Fishing Industry, supported by Liberia’s vast marine resources, with an Atlantic coastline spanning 370 nautical miles.

Liberian waters contain very prolific fish, shrimp and lobster stocks which have a high propensity to support commercial fisheries with the essential theme of responsible sustainability.

The Fishing Industry provides seafood, the main protein source that accompanies the nation’s staple food.

Seafood products are the chief protein source for a population of 3.5 million, in addition to three-quarters of a million foreign residents.

They also represent a potentially high source of hard currency, with many species which are very attractive to foreign markets.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARYThe Proposed Commercial Shrimping and Lobster

Export Project: The Proposed Commercial Shrimping and Lobster

Export Project shall produce high quality fish, shrimps and lobsters for export to global markets.

Production of top quality, well frozen shrimps, lobsters, squid and other exportable species will be harvested through mechanized commercial techniques on ocean-going vessels. Operations shall be staged in close proximity to the Freeport of Monrovia, Liberia. Overseas shipment shall be via refrigerated containers.

The by-catch of African Mix shall be made available on the domestic market for consumption in urban areas, followed by onward distribution to 15 coastal and inland politico-commercial sub-divisions.

The primary market for the top quality ocean-caught shrimps and lobsters will be the European and U.S. export markets.

The secondary market for local consumption shall be the capital, Monrovia and its environs, with a population of about two million. Monrovia and its suburbs will sustain a targeted market share of three-fifths of the production volume, while the remaining two-fifths will be supplied to the leeward sub-divisions at very affordable prices via very efficient distribution techniques.

DESIRED FUNDINGFinancing through a Letter of Credit is being

sought for US $ 9.5 Million (Nine and a Half Million United States Dollars)

Funding will be utilized to underwrite the Vessels Acquisition and Start-Up Costs to launch The Proposed Commercial Shrimping and Lobster Export Project: 12-Vessel lucrative and high visibility operation.

Repayment period is Three Years

CRITICAL ASSUMPTIONSThe Management Team has decided that

given the event wherein the full desired funding of U.S. $9.5 Million for a 12-vessel operation plus multi-county plants may not be initially available, the project could be scaled down and broken up into two phases.

Phase I would entail a lower optimal level for staging a 3-vessel operation which would cost U.S. $2.0 Million, including working capital requirements .

CRITICAL ASSUMPTIONS

The Management Team estimates that given its exceptional level of financial, operational and marketing expertise, in addition to familiarity with European marketing territory and high efficiency rate, within three years, it will be sufficiently poised to implement strategy for Phase Two; Project Expansion Phase.

PHASE I- US $ 2.0 MILLIONPhase One of the Commercial Shrimping and

Lobster Export Project shall involve the Acquisition of 3 (three) 130 Metric-Ton Refrigerated Shrimping Vessels .

Proceeds generated from Export sales shall be utilized to pay-off the loan and sustain growth-driven operations through provisions for additional Cold Storage and Distributing Facilities and other Working Capital Requirements.

The initial phase of the project shall entail supplying the Export and Liberian markets with high quality shrimps and lobsters through the operation of three double-rigged steel hulled shrimping vessels.

The shrimpers shall be efficiently equipped with cutting edge navigational, communications, harvesting and refrigeration implements to ensure maximum quality for International Standards.

Subsequent to the establishment of highly efficient operations and setting up cost-effective distribution networks, The Proposed Commercial Shrimping and Lobster Export Project shall within three years of operation launch Phase II for expansion.

PHASE II- US $ 7.5 MILLIONPhase Two of the Commercial Shrimping and

Lobster Export Project shall involve the Acquisition of 9 (nine) additional 130-Metric-Ton Refrigerated Shrimping Vessels.

Proceeds generated from Export sales shall be utilized to pay-off the second loan and interest within the fourth year of operation.

Expansion efforts shall be implemented within a three-year timeframe to expand the fleet size from three to ten vessels through the acquisition of seven additional vessels, after paying off the initial 2.0 Million Dollars with interest.

Also, to prevent over-supply conditions and to capitalize on geographical market growth, part of the expansion phase shall involve management and agency contracts with Fish Dealers in the bordering countries of Sierra Leone and Guinea.

Fish is also a chief source of protein for Sierra Leone and Guinea. These two countries have vast inland populations of approximately 8 million.

These inland populations are nearly five hundred miles away from seaports within their respective countries, whereas Central Liberia is one hundred miles away from the Port of Monrovia, and less than one hundred miles away from most large inland commercial centers in the two neighboring countries mentioned.

The efficient distribution networks shall give The Proposed Commercial Shrimping and Lobster Export Project a very high competitive edge and comparative advantage to supply fish to inland Sierra Leone and Guinea.

BENEFITS TO BE ACCRUED BY THE GOVERNMENT OF LIBERIAThe Proposed Commercial Shrimping and

Lobster Export Project shall pay to the Government of Liberia all fees, corporate income taxes, and other relevant charges.

The far-reaching accompanying positive implications and socio-political economic benefits of expanding employment, output, and income, coupled with the intrinsic multiplier effect that domestic shrimping production for export to the global market shall generate cannot be over-emphasized.

Phase I of the project shall gain-fully employ not less than One Hundred (100) Liberians. The project shall employ and train former combatants to help re-integrate them in civil society.

By the inception of Phase II, the project shall have 250 gain-fully employed Liberians who will be constantly trained to sharpen their skills to continuously contribute to the overall growth and development of Liberia, while affording their respective families a decent and promising standard of living.

MANAGEMENT TEAMThe Management Team includes well-versed Liberians with very

high integrity and exceptional levels of financial, entrepreneurial, operational, credit risk management, and marketing expertise, in addition to familiarity with European and U.S. marketing territories.

Head

Michael Kwame Itoka – Business and Finance Consultant Managing Director, Pascal Resources , Logistics &Oil(Liberia) Inc.

147, Benson St., Monrovia, LiberiaPhone (877)-725-1515 Ext. 266

Fax (877)-725-3760Cell (317-450-5989 USA

Cell (231)76127855 LiberiaSkype ID michael.kwame.itoka

kwameitoka@pascallogistics.comwww.pascallogistics.com

leapfroggers@yahoo.com