Liberia took a bold step toward agricultural transformation and industrialization on Friday, May 23, 2025, with the official launch of its first Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone (SAPZ) in Harmonville Township, Grand Bassa County.
At the groundbreaking ceremony, Prince Redd, Executive Chairperson of the Liberia Special Economic Zones Authority (LSEZA), called the US$19.4 million project a pivotal moment for advancing value-added agriculture, economic growth, and job creation.
“Today, we are not just breaking ground we are breaking limits,” Redd said, highlighting the initiative’s potential to benefit over 25,000 farmers and empower thousands more through training and business opportunities.
Funded by the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the Government of Liberia, the SAPZ will transform 200 hectares of the Buchanan Special Economic Zone into a modern, climate-smart agro-industrial hub near the Port of Buchanan. The site will include processing zones for cocoa, dairy, fruits, vegetables, and livestock, supported by critical infrastructure such as a 5-kilometer access road and a 6.5-kilometer power line from the CLSG grid.
This initiative is a key part of President Joseph Boakai’s ARREST Agenda, focusing on Agriculture, Roads, Rule of Law, Education, Sanitation, and Tourism.
AfDB Senior Transport Engineer Kaustella Kialain Sarsih reaffirmed the Bank’s commitment, noting Liberia joins other West African countries like Nigeria and Senegal in this regional agro-industrial effort.
Labor Minister Cllr. Cooper Kruah encouraged Liberians to view the SAPZ as a transformative opportunity, while Representative Thomas Alexander Goshua praised the project for reshaping Grand Bassa’s development story.
“This is not just a ceremony—it is the dawn of economic transformation,” Redd emphasized, urging citizens to support the project’s success.
The launch drew local leaders, lawmakers, and international partners, reflecting a shared commitment to growing Liberia’s agricultural economy from the ground up. By: TarrU. B Garnett/Ablee-Jay TV