Africa-Press – Liberia. Liberia has taken a major step toward modernizing its trade systems and improving port operations with the official launch of a Time Release Study (TRS) — a globally recognized diagnostic tool aimed at reducing customs clearance times and boosting efficiency at the country’s main seaport.
The initiative is a joint effort among the National Port Authority (NPA), the Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA), and the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, with technical support from the World Customs Organization (WCO) and financial backing from the United Kingdom’s HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC).
The TRS, which measures the average time between the arrival of goods and their final release from customs control, is expected to help Liberia identify and eliminate procedural bottlenecks that slow down trade and increase costs for importers and exporters.
Speaking at the launch, NPA Managing Director Sekou A. M. Dukuly hailed the TRS as a “cornerstone” of Liberia’s ongoing trade facilitation drive and a key component of the Authority’s RESET Agenda, a five-year strategic plan to transform the port into a competitive regional trade hub.
“At the heart of our RESET Agenda is a commitment to improving efficiency and cutting customs clearing time by up to 50%,” Dukuly said.
“This Time Release Study shows that the LRA and our partners share our vision of tackling congestion and ensuring smoother trade flows for Liberian businesses.”
Dukuly described the initiative as “a beacon of hope” for Liberia’s trade reform process, stressing that the study’s findings will not remain dormant.
“We will not allow this study to gather dust,” he declared.
“Its outcomes will be translated into concrete actions to ease congestion and enhance service delivery across our port system.”
He further thanked the WCO and HMRC for their support, saying the collaboration reflects confidence in Liberia’s economic potential and its readiness to integrate into global trade systems.
British Embassy ‘Trade Efficiency Is a Shared Global Priority’
Representing the British Government, Mr. Simon Tooth, the UK Chargé d’Affaires in Monrovia, reaffirmed the UK’s commitment to helping Liberia strengthen its trade facilitation systems.
He emphasized that trade efficiency is not only a local concern but a shared global priority, one that demands strong partnerships and capacity-building.
“By strengthening Liberia’s systems and building local capacity, we can help ensure that the country becomes a more competitive and trusted trading partner within the region and beyond,” Tooth said.
He added that the UK, through HM Revenue and Customs, is proud to work with Liberia and the WCO in promoting transparency, efficiency, and sustainability across the country’s port operations.
The British Embassy also reiterated its long-term commitment to supporting trade and investment growth between the UK and Liberia through technical cooperation and development partnerships.
Commerce Minister, Reforms to Drive Inclusive Growth
Minister of Commerce and Industry Hon. Magdalene Dagoseh reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring a transparent, efficient, and inclusive environment for trade and investment.
She described the TRS as a strategic reform instrument that will help identify bottlenecks, digitize customs procedures, and align Liberia’s systems with global best practices under the World Trade Organization’s Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA).
“These reforms will not only improve the ease of doing business but also promote inclusive and sustainable economic growth,” Minister Dagoseh said.
“Findings from the study will guide key policy reforms, including digitizing customs processes, improving inter-agency coordination, and reducing clearance times for imports and exports.”
Dagoseh commended the LRA’s Customs Department for leading the process alongside the Ministry of Commerce, the NPA, and the Liberia Chamber of Commerce, and thanked international partners for their consistent technical assistance.
LRA Commissioner Saamoi, ‘Efficiency Requires All Hands on Deck’
Providing further context, LRA Customs Commissioner Saa Saamoi underscored that improving clearance times is a shared responsibility involving multiple stakeholders, from terminal operators to importers and shipping agents.
He explained that the TRS is not merely a study, but a diagnostic tool designed to measure how efficiently goods move from arrival at the port to release into commerce.
“Time Release Study is about multi-stakeholder efficiency,” Saamoi said.
“It measures everything, from how long it takes to discharge cargo from a vessel, to how quickly declarations are filed, to how fast customs can assess and release goods.”
Saamoi noted that previous efforts to conduct a TRS were hindered by challenges related to data collection and the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the renewed study, he said, demonstrates a national consensus to tackle inefficiencies that slow trade.
“The private sector has complained about delays. The Minister of Commerce has acknowledged the issue, and the Minister of Finance has called for urgent action,” he said.
“It means there is consensus that we must improve clearance time quickly.”
He also pointed to payment bottlenecks as one of the major causes of delays, an issue the LRA aims to resolve through electronic payment systems and enhanced inter-agency coordination.
“Even before this study, payment delays have been a major challenge,” he admitted.
“Transitioning fully to electronic payments will be a game-changer for the entire trade system.”
Path Forward: Data-Driven Reforms
The Time Release Study, according to the NPA and LRA, will generate data-driven insights on clearance times and process inefficiencies, enabling authorities to take targeted action to reduce delays, increase transparency, and boost investor confidence.
All partners agreed that the study’s implementation marks a turning point in Liberia’s efforts to modernize its logistics and customs systems, ensuring the country’s competitiveness in regional and international trade.
“Together,” Minister Dagoseh concluded,
“We can build a competitive, transparent, and business-friendly trading environment that fosters opportunity, prosperity, and shared growth for all Liberians.”
For More News And Analysis About Liberia Follow Africa-Press
