The chairman of the Export Processing Zone Authority (EPZA) board Richard Cheruiyot, has highlighted a surge in demand from both local and international investors looking to invest in the Export Processing Zone.
EPZA, a state agency under the Ministry of Investment, Trade, and Industry, is tasked with attracting, facilitating, retaining, and fostering an enabling environment for export-oriented investments.
Cheruiyot emphasized the rapid growth of the EPZ program, citing the recent addition of Nextgen Packaging Kenya EPZ Ltd in Machakos. The Authority is headquartered at the Athi River EPZ in Machakos County.
“EPZ program is attracting more investors due to the country’s conducive business environment and marketing by the EPZA,” Cheruiyot said.
Cheruiyot addressed the press at EPZ, Athi River on Thursday.
He said Athi River Export Processing Zone is Kenya’s largest industrial park, designed to offer new export-oriented projects an ideal location for establishment.
“This industrial park hosts 97 enterprises with 26,760 persons employed as of December 2023. Activities range from textile and apparel, pharmaceuticals, darts board, service, agro-processing, food processing, and electrical goods among others,” Cheruiyot said.
Cheruiyot said the Authority offers a range of attractive incentives which include; rapid project approval, unrestricted investments by foreigners including green channel port clearance, liberalized foreign exchange regime and a state-of-the-art common effluent treatment plant.
He said the Athi River Zone is a fully serviced zone comprising 454.47Ha.
“We welcome more investors to set up their manufacturing and join the vibrant EPZ Athi River, a community that has over 300 expatriates,” Cheruiyot said.
President William Ruto presided over the official opening of Nextgen Packaging Kenya EPZ on Tuesday. Ruto also visited Hela Garments EPZ factory where he interacted with and addressed the jovial and excited workers.
Cheruiyot said the Export Processing Zone’s contribution to the national economy has been rising steadily over the years.
He noted that the growth had become more significant with the coming into effect of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA).
“More Investors are looking at Kenya to access the US market. Tuesday’s event, exhibition and attendance is a true reflection that the US is a great Trade partner for Kenya,” Cheruiyot said.
He said Nexgen Packaging Kenya EPZ Ltd’s choice to invest in Kenya and the EPZ program had greatly paid off.