Players in the wood industry are looking into tapping into the market gap created by increased taxes on imported finished wooden products.
Each county aggregation and industrial park aims to create employment opportunities for Kenyan youth by participating in the affordable housing project, which plans to build 200 housing units.
Bola Properties' managing director Malei Nthiwa, stated that the ‘Buy Kenya, Build Kenya’ slogan will drive substantial industrialization opportunities in the country.
Consequently boosting the demand for locally sourced high-quality equipment, technologies, and machinery.
Speaking at a three-day woodworkers' exhibition in Nairobi, Ministry of Investments, Trade and Industry administrator Karanja Njora, announced plans to provide financial support to the woodworkers.
The financial support includes a Sh250 million contribution from the national government and a sh250 million contribution from involved counties for a common-user wood machinery program.
"Upon acquiring the necessary machinery, we will diligently implement shift schedules to ensure 100 per cent accessibility," said Njora.
“Each user will be required to pay a small levy for the services provided,” he added.
He emphasized the necessity of felling mature trees and replacing them to initiate tree conservation efforts, which would, in turn, cushion the nation's economy by facilitating exports of surplus products.
The exhibition which drew over 10 countries companies including Turkey is expecting more than 4,000 business visitors from East African countries at KICC.
The central goal of the Woodtech Africa 2023 Exhibition and Conference is to establish wood technology centers of excellence, initially in Nairobi and Machakos Counties, and ultimately extend them to all 47 counties in Kenya.
Woodtech Africa is a trade show featuring woodworking machinery, furniture hardware and fittings, power tools, plywood and panels, timber, and lumber, among other products.
It is uniting stakeholders in wood technologies, the wood industry, governments, and companies from 1o countries worldwide.