Monrovia –Liberia’s push toward industrialization and investment took center stage this week as the Liberia Special Economic Zones Authority (LSEZA) ended a two-day media training for reporters, editors and talk show hosts to discuss the role special economic zones are expected to play in attracting investors, promoting manufacturing and creating jobs in Liberia.
Opening the session, LSEZA Executive Chairperson Prince Wreh described the institution as one still building the structures needed to fully implement its mandate after becoming operational in 2024.
“We’ve been in a formative period, ensuring the administrative and operational structures are in place,” Wreh said.
According to him, one of the Authority’s first major steps was drafting regulations, with support from the World Bank, to guide investors and operators interested in Liberia’s economic zones.
Wreh pointed participants to ongoing work in Grand Bassa County where contractors are already clearing land, erecting electricity poles and fencing more than 200 hectares for the Liberia Special Agro-Processing Zone.
The project, funded by the African Development Bank, is expected to focus on adding value to products including rubber, cocoa, coffee, rice and palm products.
He also disclosed that the Authority is attracting investor interest for the Monrovia Free Zone because of its proximity to the Freeport of Monrovia.
According to Wreh, discussions are ongoing with developers interested in establishing manufacturing and light industrial activities within the zone.
Also making remarks, the President of the Press Union of Liberia (PUL), Julius Kanubah, described the training as important at a time when economic reporting remains critical to national development.
Kanubah said discussions around special economic zones have existed since Liberia’s post-war recovery period, with many viewing them as key to industrialization, trade and job creation.
“The number of economic zones determines the level of economic activities and development in a country,” Kanubah said.
Liberia currently has five recognized economic zones including the Monrovia Free Zone, Buchanan Special Economic Zone, Roberts International Airport Economic Zone, Monrovia Industrial Park and the Mesurado Fishing Pier Economic Zone.
The Liberia Special Economic Zones Authority (LSEZA) was established through the Liberia Special Economic Zones Act of 2017 to regulate and promote special economic zones across Liberia. Although the law was passed in 2017, the institution only became operational in 2024 following the appointment of its leadership by President Joseph Nyuma Boakai.
