THE LIBERIAN Government stopped the exports of unprocessed rubber to force companies to process the commodity locally and thereby boost the domestic economic activity.
President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf has ordered the export freeze to also create job opportunities. She also calls for an immediate action to lift the sagging rubber sector and curb illegal rubber tapping.
Robert Kpadeh, Deputy Minister for Technical Services explained that the measure, which might result in short-term decline in revenue , could add more value to the country’s production, which could also prompt setup of new factories,
Liberia, is a global rubber exporter and the commodity is the country’s largest export, valued at under US$200 million/year – an estimated 40% of total annual exports; Moreover, a larger part of the country’s work force is in the rubber sector.