Overstock.com subsidiary Medici Land Governance has signed a memorandum of understanding with Liberia to help the African nation digitize government services, a news release announced on June 10.
The pro bono pilot project will explore how Liberia can strengthen its economy through blockchain
and enhance interoperability between government departments. As well as
strengthen the country’s capacity to generate revenues, the release
notes that such infrastructure could reduce corruption.
During
the project, local workers in Liberia will also be given technological
trading to create sustainable jobs and ensure blockchain systems can be
maintained once they have gone live. Ali El Husseini, the CEO of Medici
Land Governance, said:
“Liberia is
well-positioned to explore implementing a blockchain backbone for
e-government, which connects the various government ministries as their
services are digitized and brought online.”
According to Patrick M. Byrne,
Medici Land Governance’s chairman and Overstock.com CEO, Liberia is the
third country on the continent to put its suite of blockchain products
to the test. He added:
“In 2019 I have been
pleased and honored to see African nations growing enthusiastic about
the possibility of using blockchain to accelerate their development.”
Last August, Zambia signed
a MoU with Medici Land Governance that was designed to help rural
landowners legitimize their estates and gain access to the financial
world, in turn making it easier for the government to collect taxes.
A similar agreement was also signed in Mexico back in February.
