By MKT Reporter
Investments, Trade, and Industry, Cabinet Secretary, Salim Mvurya, has laid the foundation stone for the Eldoret Export Processing Zones Authority (EPZA), which aims to enhance trade and economic development in the county.
Phase 1 will cost Ksh 477 million and is expected to be completed by the end of November.
“The Uasin Gishu, Muranga, Kirinyaga, Nakuru, Busia, and Kwale County EPZ are the 6 projects that the president William Ruto has directed that we give priority in terms of construction, and we are going to spend a total of Ksh 3 billion for the EPZ flagship projects, and these are projects will not only inspire the manufacturing but also the export sector,” he noted.
“Apart from EPZ, we also have the Special Economic Zones Authority (SEZ)-like zones in Naivasha and Dongo Kundu in Mombasa, where we are working to ensure that we inspire investments, and for the Eldoret EPZ, we have advertised for investors to apply, and we will ensure the process of vetting is completed by the end of October,” said Mvurya.
Mvurya urged farmers and entrepreneurs to ensure their produce is of quality, processed, and exported from the industrial zone to meet export standards.
“We are targeting different value chains in the different counties already. We have been able to disburse Ksh 1 billion shillings this financial year to all the 19 CAIPs so that they can continue with the construction,” he revealed.
“Together with the county government, we will also be working with backward linkages to ensure the aggregation products are also prepared in advance so that when construction is completed, we can move in and have the products that we have itemised in all the parks,” he said.
The collaboration between agriculture and industry is central to the project, and the ministry will work closely with the local farming community to maximise the opportunities brought by the new industrial zone.
The industrial zone is part of a broader national strategy to increase Kenya’s manufacturing capacity and collaborate with local stakeholders to help farmers achieve required quality standards for accreditation and export.
MITI will play a pivotal role in supporting the initiative, creating jobs, and positioning Eldoret as a regional industrial powerhouse.
The job creation potential is huge, with over 100,000 jobs generated, providing opportunities for skilled and semi-skilled workers and reducing youth unemployment in the county.
