Free Zones and Industrial Parks
Monrovia Industrial Park
Manufacturers are in the sectors of paints, mattresses, industrial oxygen, bakeries, wood-working, metal works, varnishes, plastic, rubber products and African clothing. Other products are mineral water, toiletries, refined vegetable oil, confectioneries, etc. While a few of the products are exported, most are for the domestic market.
Within the commercial hub of Monrovia, there is 60 acres of land within the erstwhile Free Zone. Manufacturing opportunities exist in this area on account of its proximity to infrastructure and the Port of Monrovia.
Additionally, there is the Monrovia Industrial Park (MIP) that contains 200 acres of land also in close, proximity to the Port of Monrovia. Currently small and medium scale manufacturing of goods such as nails, paint, industrial oxygen, confectioneries, and steel rods, is taking place in this park. There exists more manufacturing space in the park. For more information visit: www.moci.gov.lr.
Special Economic Zones (SEZs) Development
Towards promoting and accelerating economic growth and national development, the Government enacted in 2017 a law to create a Liberia Special Economic Zone Authority (LSEZA). When established, the Authority will create and regulate Special Economic Zones (SEZs) across the country to facilitate the attraction of domestic and foreign investment capital.
Within each SEZ, the Authority will provide a One-Stop-Shop for business registrations and the issuance of licenses, permits, and approvals, as well as the collection of taxes and fees.
The SEZ law sets forth the rights, obligations of licensees, developers, and operators that will be in SEZs. The law provides for special tax and incentive regimes towards attracting both domestic and foreign investments. Implementation of international customs standards will be required. The exchange and transfer of funds from activities of SEZ licensees, developers, and operators will be permitted.
Currently, approximately 500 acres of land have been earmarked around the Port of Buchanan for the development of a Special Economic Zone.
Special Agro-industrial Processing Zone (SAPZ) Project Overview
The Government of Liberia has received from the African Development Bank (AfDB) a total of US$16 Million to implement the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone (SAPZ) Project for a period of five (5) years, (January 2022 to December 2027). The Project development goal is to contribute to inclusive and sustainable agro-industrial development in Liberia, and in the process reduce staple food imports, create jobs, and reduce poverty. The project development objectives are to: i) create better business environment for increased investment in the agro-industrial sector, ii) create opportunities for investments at the industrial level and coordinate the integration of small holder farms, and agro processing industry into sustained agro value chains opportunities and, iii) improve capacities and skills to benefit from new agribusiness employment and value chain development opportunities. The project is structured around three related components; including: a) Support the development of Climate-resilient Infrastructure to attract investments into Agricultural Value addition/industrailization b) Support Business Competittiveness, Enable skills and climate-smart agricultural value chain development and strengthen farmer coordination and c) Strengthen Institutional Capacity, Project Coordination & Management.
The project is situtated in the city of Buchanan, Grand Bassa County and the key commodities of focus are: rice, cassava, oil palm, coffee, coffee, cocoa, rubber, fruits and vegetables, and aquaculture. The Feasibility Study and Master Plans estimates that 156,000 (direct and indirect) new, sustianable jobs will be created in the Agri hub, ATCs and farm commodities around the Aggregation Centers at full implementation. About 50% of these are expected to be women and youth. Skills development interventions, Troposed under this project, will particular prepare 4,000 youth and women with relevant agro-industrial and entrepreneurial skills, especially in the areas of food and non-food processing.
The National Investment Commission (NIC) is serving as Executing and Implementing Agency (EA) and will implement the (SAPZ) Project over a (5) five years period. The Project Implementation Unit (PIU) within the National Investment Commission (NIC) will serve, as the project-executing agent comprise of full complement of essential experts.