The Authorities of Liberia, in collaboration with the World Financial institution and the African Growth Financial institution, launches a Particular Agro-Industrial Processing Zone (SAPZ) that is anticipated to create over 50,000 new jobs right here.
By Lincoln G. Peters
Monrovia, Liberia, Could 26, 2025. The Liberia Particular Financial Zones Authority (LSEZA), in funding partnership with the African Growth Financial institution and the World Financial institution, has formally launched the nation’s first Particular Agro-Industrial Processing Zone (SAPZ) in Harmonville Township, Grand Bassa County.
The groundbreaking initiative was held within the Port Metropolis of Buchanan, Grand Bassa, notably in district#5, bringing collectively dozens of worldwide companions, native and central authorities officers, together with youth and college students.
Funded by the African Growth Financial institution (AfDB), World Financial institution, and the Authorities of Liberia, the SAPZ mission will remodel 200 hectares of Buchanan Particular Financial Zone into a contemporary, climate-smart agro-industrial hub close to the Port of Buchanan.
The target of the mission is to scale back reliance on meals imports, strengthen agro-industrialization, whereas enhancing meals safety. Therefore, the mission will create roughly fifty-six thousand sustainable jobs, 50% of which can profit the youth and 50% employees.
Additionally, the positioning will embrace processing zones for cocoa, dairy, fruits, greens, and livestock, supported by essential infrastructure comparable to a 5-kilometer entry highway and a 6.5-kilometer energy line from the CLSG Ivory Coast regional energy grid.
Formally breaking floor for the mission, together with the deed signing and turning over on behalf of President Joseph N. Boakai, Vice President Jeremiah Ok. Koung prolonged appreciation and gratitude to Liberia’s Particular Financial Zoon Authority and companions for the initiative, whereas extending President Boakai’s honest apologies for his absence.
In accordance with VP Koung, the initiative is a key a part of President Boakai’s ARREST Agenda, specializing in Agriculture, Roads, Rule of Legislation, Training, Sanitation, and Tourism, whereas reflecting that fifty years in the past, former President William R. Tolbert, Jr. gave beginning to this imaginative and prescient, however fifty years, Liberia’s has accomplished nothing about attaining this.
He urged the companions and contractors to recruit neighborhood dwellers to assist on the mission implementation, including that such will give possession to the residents and supply home safety, whereas urging native residents to utilize the neighborhood school to organize themselves for alternatives forward.
“Now, President Boakai, who understands what it means in the case of agriculture and worth addition, has determined to convey this dream to actuality. Now, we urge that you simply improve your velocity. In the event you have been operating at sixty, double at one twenty. Our folks can’t wait. When you’ve got any points and need something to maneuver, come to me and I’ll meet the President. Our folks need this as a result of they offered the land. When the deed is ready right now, you may construct all of the roads, but when the bread and butter points aren’t addressed, the folks will nonetheless have issues. Let me inform you that that is what’s going to handle the bread and butter points. This mission is the President’s child and he desires to see it come to success”, the Vice President defined.
On behalf of the African Growth Financial institution, one of many key companions behind the mission, AfDB Senior Transport Engineer, Kaustella Kialain Sarsih, reaffirmed the Financial institution’s dedication, whereas disclosing that Liberia joins different West African international locations like Nigeria, Guinea, Senegal, and Togo on this agro-industrial effort.
“I’m deeply honored to characterize the AfDB. Right now’s groundbreaking and deed signing for Liberia’s first Particular Agro-Industrial Processing Zone (SAPZ) is excess of a ceremonial program. It’s an motion that signifies that agro-business is the following step for nationwide prosperity. The AfDB stands strongly shoulder to shoulder with the Authorities of Liberia to realize this. With US$16m from the Financial institution already authorised and additional US$13m, we reaffirmed our dedication to help Liberia”, she said.
Grand Bassa County District#5 Consultant, Thomas Alexander Goshua, extolled and appreciated the federal government for its dedication to rural improvement, and agriculture improvement.
“I need to thank President Boakai and the Vice President, who’s presently right here, for the initiative. We’ve lengthy been saying that issues will occur in Bassa and it will likely be good for us and everybody of us will take pleasure in. For a really very long time, folks have been telling us that the Bassa folks gave their land for smoked fish. This time, we’re not giving it for smoked fish however for improvement and enchancment. So, I need to admire the folks of Bassa district #5 for agreeing with us to supply this land to do that initiative”, Consultant Goshua said.
Offering an summary and background of the mission, Mr. Prince Redd, Govt Chairperson of the Liberia Particular Financial Zones Authority (LSEZA), described the US$19.4 million mission as pivotal second for advancing value-added agriculture, financial development, and job creation.
In accordance with him, the mission is the daybreak of an financial Zone for Grand Bassa and a mark of a accountable authorities, whereas appreciating the hospitable folks of Grand Bassa County for offering the land to deal with meals insecurity and job creation.
The federal government views agricultural transformation as central to Liberia’s financial restoration, with officers describing farming as “the heartbeat” of the President’s improvement agenda. The mission is anticipated to start attracting buyers inside coming months, as infrastructure improvement will get underway.
“Right now, we’re not simply breaking floor, we’re breaking limits. Mr. Vice President, kindly prolong to the President that we on the LSEZA are proud to be the regulating physique within the Liberia round and Financial Zone. We additionally need to admire our companions, the African Growth Financial institution, whose funding made this doable. Additionally, USAID for supporting the foundational feasibility research, World Financial institution, amongst others”, Mr. Redd stated. Modifying by Jonathan Browne
