By: Akoi M. Baysah, Jr.
The Liberia Special Economic Zones Authority (LSEZA), backed by the World Bank–funded Liberia Investment, Finance, and Trade (LIFT) Project, has concluded a high-powered study tour of Mauritius, one of Africa’s most successful Special Economic Zone (SEZ) and Freeport models, as Liberia intensifies its drive toward global competitiveness and industrial transformation.
LSEZA’s Acting Director of Administration, Madam Hattie Wureh Hunder led the Liberian delegation and engaged top government ministries, major private-sector institutions, and leading industrial operators in Mauritius, extracting strategic insights that could redefine Liberia’s SEZ landscape.
Over the course of a week, the team conducted an in-depth assessment of Mauritius’ acclaimed SEZ governance systems, investment attraction strategies, logistics architecture, and export-readiness mechanisms.
These frameworks are credited with propelling Mauritius into a regional economic powerhouse, an outcome Liberia now aims to replicate as it builds a modern and competitive SEZ regime.
During the mission, LSEZA held high-level dialogues with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade, the Mauritius Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI), BPML Freeport Services, and House of Lords Beverages Ltd.
These engagements offered an unfiltered look into how Mauritius blends public-sector leadership with private-sector dynamism to drive industrial growth.
The delegation toured state-of-the-art Freeport facilities and observed firsthand the rigorous logistics coordination, automated systems, and rapid service delivery that anchor Mauritius’ 19 thriving economic zones.
The exposure provided Liberia with a clear picture of the infrastructure, governance discipline, and operational efficiency required to compete on the global stage.
Coordinated by the Economic Development Board (EDB) of Mauritius, the visit equipped LSEZA with actionable lessons, from export competitiveness and infrastructure planning to investor facilitation and integrated economic hub management.
These takeaways, officials say, will be central to building a stronger, investment-ready SEZ environment in Liberia.
The Liberian delegation comprised: madam Hattie Wureh Hunder, Acting Director of Administration, Miss Josephine G. Ghon-tay, Corporate Communications Officer, Miss Anna M. Sarkor, One-Stop Shop Coordination Officer, and Julius Saye Keh-nel, Acting Project Coordinator, LIFT-P.
This landmark initiative was made possible through the World Bank–financed LIFT Project, which is accelerating reforms to improve Liberia’s investment climate, expand access to finance, and strengthen trade and industrial efficiency.
