MONROVIA, Oct. 7 -- For decades, Liberia's economy has leaned on the same narrow pillars: iron ore, rubber, timber and, more recently, gold. Raw materials leave the country, and finished goods come back in.

By Rodney D. Sieh

Policymakers have long argued that breaking this cycle requires places where investors can set up quickly, operate under predictable rules and export at scale.

That argument has now gained a continental platform. The Liberia Special Economic Zones Authority (LSEZA) has secured membership in the Africa Economic Zones Organization (AEZO), the continent's main network for the institutions that build and run economic zones. Authority officials say the move is designed to make Liberia West Africa's leading destination f...