CSEA & AFREXIMBANK VISITS RDFI
A Team, comprising agricultural economists from the Center for the Study of the Economies of Africa (CSEA), in collaboration with the African Export-Import Bank (AFREXIMBANK) is conducting the African Rubber Economy Report, a continental study examining the economic dynamics, challenges, and opportunities of the rubber sector. And, Liberia, being central to this research, given its long history in rubber production and the presence of major concessionaires such as Firestone Natural Rubber Company, which operates the world’s largest contiguous natural rubber plantation, necessitated a meeting with the Rubber Development Fund, Inc. (RDFI), the regulator of the Liberian rubber sector.
The meeting, held at RDFI Head Office located at Airfield New Road on April 8, 2026, was hosted by the Executive Director and the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the RDFI. The RDFI team shared information with the CSEA team including policy, national industry strategies/trends as well as the economic dynamic challenges and opportunities of the rubber sector in Liberia, including plans for value addition up to manufacturing of rubber products in Liberia.
The CSEA Team assured the RDFI that they had been conducting surveys and stakeholder interviews across Liberia’s rubber value chain to capture industry trends, institutional frameworks, challenges, and political economy dimensions. The findings will provide evidence‑based insights to inform national and regional policy, strengthen value chain linkages, and enhance the sector’s contribution to economic growth and rural development.
All in all, this engagement was very fruitful as the CSEA Team was impressed by the quality of information given to them including the future plans of the RDFI in reference to improving and modernizing the sector for expansion and improvement in the livelihood of the rubber farmers of Liberia, especially the smallholder rubber farmers, who contribute significantly to the production of rubber in Liberia.
