To Strengthen Liberia’s Special Economic Zones Model
Monrovia, Liberia – Two delegations from the Liberia Special Economic Zones Authority (LSEZA) have successfully conducted strategic study visits to Kenya and Gabon with assistance from the World Bank under the Liberia Investment, Finance, and Trade (LIFT) Project.
Through information sharing, operational benchmarking, and strategic learning, the trips were intended to strengthen Liberia’s Special Economic Zones (SEZ) structure. LSEZA teams gained firsthand knowledge of public-private partnership models, the One Stop Shop (OSS) concept, and efficient Special Economic Zones (SEZ) administration systems during the week-long visit.
In order to maximize investor services, the One Stop Shop (OSS) framework is an integrated platform that streamlines all government processes related to investment, business registration, and licensing onto a single platform, both digitally and physically. Investment processes are simplified and efficiency is raised.
The benchmarking process demonstrates LSEZA’s dedication to implementing transferable best practices that will improve legal and administrative frameworks, make it easier to operationalize a profitable One Stop Shop system, and raise Liberia’s appeal as an investment destination.
The team traveled to Tatu City, the Konza Technopolis SEZ, and Nairobi Gate Industrial Park as part of the comparative tour in Kenya. What The delegation learned a lot about how Kenya’s SEZ structure promotes innovation, investment, and employment growth.
The group looked at Gabon’s tax incentive programs, government involvement in Special Economic Zones (SEZs), and Single Window System implementation Gabon’s version of the One Stop Shop model. The World Bank’s Liberia Investment, Finance, and Trade (LIFT) Project, which aims to improve trade efficiency, improve access to finance, and improve Liberia’s investment climate, among other goals, made the research visit feasible.
The delegation from Gabon was made up of Standford Peabody, Executive Director for Planning and Research and Head of Delegation; Boakai Siafa, Afro-Zone Development Assistant; William Kawalawu, Agriculture and Agri-Business Advisor; and Taikahn Chattah, Enterprise Development Officer and Head of Delegation; Francis Samuels, Budget and Finance Analyst; and Chief Budu Wilson, Coordinator, One Stop Shop.
The Liberia Special Economic Zones Authority (LSEZA) is the statutory body responsible for promoting, developing, and managing Special Economic Zones across Liberia to drive industrialization, attract foreign investment, and create sustainable jobs.
