Liberia, May 4 -- Liberia is a resource-rich nation, yet it remains largely a raw-material exporting economy. From rubber and iron ore to gold, timber, and diamonds, the country has for decades depended on concession companies to extract and export its natural resources.

By Kenety S. Gee, contributing writer

The fundamental question is not whether Liberia has resources, it clearly does. The deeper question is: why has Liberia not translated these resources into industrial development, job creation, and local manufacturing?

A Resource-Rich but Value-Poor Economy Liberia's export structure tells a revealing story. The country's exports are overwhelmingly dominated by raw commodities:

* Rubber alone accounts for about 65% of Liberia's ex...